Recent content by jameskilty

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  1. J

    Anyone grafted yet?

    Yes - 5 lots of grafts every 2 days. Nice sealed cells ready to put into nucs tomorrow. Bigger batch today in the hive now split so it is queenless (previously above QX). Now using 2x20 cell cups. Started when adult drones available. Carrying cells in a cool box with warm wet towel to...
  2. J

    importing bees

    I voted no - I can produce for my own replacement and for anyone else who asks. I try to ring the changes on lines for others especially if they want 2 or more. Most of us are very happy with selecting from our local bees - pre-varroa the background of feral bees was all-black. I have heard of...
  3. J

    Brother Adam and Amm

    Genetic studies are improving greatly. The most recent have esablished clearly that A.m.m continues strongly in some areas and is dominant in the bees in others in spite of importation of bees from southern Europe where climate and seasonal rhythm is very different. BIBBA is supporting a new...
  4. J

    looking for Native Dark Queen Bee

    This is a big problem with the purchase and import to an area of any queen or nuc from stock that has not been bred for resistance/tolerance at least as a work in progress. There are now groups looking for bees that have some characters that reduce varroa, such as grooming varroa off themselves...
  5. J

    The Forum.

    Hi Mike a and Tonybloke I am a BIBBA member and breed from the best of our local bees using several criteria (see my web pages). I founded the Cornwall Bee Improvement Group in 2002 working on the principle that we can find gems of colonies amongst a larger number of beekeepers and by working...
  6. J

    looking for Native Dark Queen Bee

    Hi Mike I will be happy to let you have some. I prefer to keep working on mine as I have been doing this a long time - 10 years now with varroa tolerance (the dream - holy grail!). I will start as soon as I have drones hatching. James
  7. J

    looking for Native Dark Queen Bee

    I have sent 3 lots of samples to 3 different collectors over the years and had no results fed back. As you have been asked for samples for dna testing this implies mine were not good enough but I don't know as yet. I have asked for feedback and am still disappointed.
  8. J

    Am I a greedy beek?.......more 2 BC questions

    There is most likely 1 queen. The plan is good - if you are careful you could make more nucs. If you are buying in new queens, they will grow fast starting with 2 frames with brood, faster with 3 don't go down to 1. However you split, one will have the flying bees so the others will have what's...
  9. J

    What should be done with a double brood chamber colony in the spring?

    If the ;local beekeepers generally use 1 BC this could be for good reason. Not all strains need more than 1. I prefer to concentrate them in one until they get to 8 frames of bees then rearrange them 4+4 and force them to expand outwards on to foundation. It depends on the season and your local...
  10. J

    Help! hive fallen over.

    It is very disconcerting to find a hive on its side or upended. Well done for getting it back. Bees are remarkably hardy and adaptavble. I have had them knocked over by vandals, rained on for a couple of weeks and they all survived. Just make sure the frames are spaced properly and hopefully all...
  11. J

    bees for Chycarne

    I should add that I believe it best to breed from the best of local bees. If yoiu want to join our programme (Cornwall Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Group) we can exchange breeding material, so if you take a graft or several and rear nucs where you are, you will maintain and add to your local...
  12. J

    bees for Chycarne

    Hello I am based near Helston and have some nucs for sale. Where is Chycarne - it sounds familiar. They will be all blacks, and from a programme to breed some varroa reduction characters into the bees. Contact me at [email protected]. See my web pages for what we are trying to do.
  13. J

    Strain identification

    I gave up in my google searches for a site with pictures of ligustica, mellifera, carnica, cecropia etc etc.The main criterion I use is that melleferan bees have a wider segment on the abdomen than carfnican. Ligustican are generally yellow, though there are reports in the US that they can be...
  14. J

    Breeding hygienic bees at Sussex Uni

    It is a moot point as to which is better - to do something like freeze brood to kill a section and count those removed (easy for the scientist) - or observe what the bees actually do with cells in the real scenario. We are aiming for processes ordinary beekeepers can use.I wish I had the time...
  15. J

    Breeding hygienic bees at Sussex Uni

    You will be able to see hygienic behaviour in your bees by careful observation. At the hive entrance, removing larvae (efb and afb) mummies (chalkbrood), pupae (varroa?). Also damaged mites on the varroa tray - also chewed pupae bits. As I don't want to keep posting the url (it has already been...
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