Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: squidink on October 10, 2012, 06:15:43 am

Title: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: squidink on October 10, 2012, 06:15:43 am
Hi,

Out of interest what Subspecies of Queens do you use and why? Do you just stick with the Italians?

I have just set up another 15 hives with various sub species of queens,Ligurian's from Kangaroo island, more Italians, Carniolan's (whats in the photo they arrived today) and Im sourcing some caucasians.

I will be interested first hand to see how they behave both inside and outside the hive and in Melbourne's climate.

Ben

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f58/prodigydiscus78/IMG_1916.jpg)
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: prestonpaul on October 10, 2012, 06:59:17 pm
I bought in an Italian queen last year, and that hive over wintered worst of all my hives, used all their stores and were on their last legs when I did my first inspection after winter. I am feeding them now, but still not 100% sure they will make it. I think it is because they did not wind down brood production over winter which would be fine in a warmer climate but not so good in the Otways :'(
I am going to give some Carniolans a try next, supposed to be good over winter-ers and nice calm bees.
Paul.
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: bigsting on October 11, 2012, 11:58:25 am
i just us swarm cell from my best over winter hives to make my nucs because they are well adapted to my climate
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: bernsad on October 11, 2012, 06:51:39 pm
I have Diamond Valley Mutts.
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: Jim134 on October 11, 2012, 07:17:57 pm
i just us swarm cell from my best over winter hives to make my nucs because they are well adapted to my climate


   X:X X:X X:X


            BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: prestonpaul on October 14, 2012, 05:36:50 am
Who'd you buy the Carniolans from?
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: bigsting on October 14, 2012, 06:16:50 am
australian queen bee line 0263604113 is one i know off
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: squidink on October 14, 2012, 06:50:42 am
Thats where i bought them from Paul;.
Ben
Title: Re: What Queens (bee sub species) do you use?
Post by: 100 TD on October 21, 2012, 09:27:32 am
Hi,

Out of interest what Subspecies of Queens do you use and why? Do you just stick with the Italians?

I have just set up another 15 hives with various sub species of queens,Ligurian's from Kangaroo island, more Italians, Carniolan's (whats in the photo they arrived today) and Im sourcing some caucasians.

I will be interested first hand to see how they behave both inside and outside the hive and in Melbourne's climate.

Ben

I use mutts caught in swarms then graft from them to split.
Don't buy more Italians, Ligurian's are Italians