Amm

[flemage]

I would also like to give a...........'darker some what more native bee' a go.

Why not this is a hobby for me i dont need 150KG per hive..... at the mo i would settle for a great deal less or perhaps.......any thing at all ....a jar would be nice?

there is a population of 'darker some what more native bee's' near to me but i am in buckfast country so will be unable to keep them that way but so what, this is suposed to be fun. you dont see this kind of arguments about keeping any other type of bee?

If i came on here and said i wanted any other type of bee no one would say a thing ...strange really.

 

[Haughton Honey]

mbc - can you tell me what an Amm is (apart from dark, local and mongrel)?

I'm struggling to find a scientific definition of exactly what they are, over and above what these individual breeding groups think that they should be.

 

[Dared]

Absolutely agree flemage its a hobby for me too not a living so a little honey is a bonus. Its the interaction with the bees that's the fun.

The bees I have now are busy foraging even when we are having showers and about 8-9 degc. Coming back with plenty of pollen. So not italian then

 

[Stiffy]

Rather than doing something positive to preserve an indigenous species, you would simply allow it to be over run?

A classic example of why the world would be a better place without us.

That's is exactly it! They are not a species, they are a strain.
For instance if a beekeeper has a strain of bees that has all the qualities desired then who is they to stop someone else with a slightly different strain but same qualities from pursuing their aims.
S

 

[Stiffy]

I would also like to give a...........'darker some what more native bee' a go.

Why not this is a hobby for me i dont need 150KG per hive..... at the mo i would settle for a great deal less or perhaps.......any thing at all ....a jar would be nice?

there is a population of 'darker some what more native bee's' near to me but i am in buckfast country so will be unable to keep them that way but so what, this is suposed to be fun. you dont see this kind of arguments about keeping any other type of bee?

If i came on here and said i wanted any other type of bee no one would say a thing ...strange really.

No they probably wouldn't because the majority are very content with the bees they have whatever their provenance. It is the few who seem to believe that AMM (whatever they are) are superior and need protecting. Makes me spit they are insects that do very well for themselves not a protected species!
S

 

[Dared]

Stiffy

Don't think most of us think they are superior, just curious to find out more about them, what's wrong with that?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

08.30 yesterday morning cloudy and not that warm - stiff breeze from the SE with the odd light shower
Hive 1 - quiet, the odd bee showing
Hive 2 - quiet,
Hive 3 - a steady stream of bees piling in and out
1400 yesterday
All hives extremely busy with lots of orientaton flights but more traffic in hive 3
Yesterday evening 19:30 hrs
Hive 1 - the odd bee showing
Hive 2 - the odd bee showing
Hive 3 - still a steady stream of bees but not as busy as lunchtime
The difference?
Hive 1 - Locally mated purebred Buckfast queen
Hive 2 - Locally mated purebred Buckfast queen
Hive 3 - West Walian bred 'dark' queen from a well known breeder

I like my buckies, but I am beginning to see a difference in their foraging

 

[Bob Bee]

which is why I'm gradually going over to the (for the sake of harmony shall we call it ) 'darker more native' bee

this is pretty much my experience too.

 

[Stiffy]

Stiffy

Don't think most of us think they are superior, just curious to find out more about them, what's wrong with that?

Nothing at all and if you have them I hope you like them. I have had what were described as AMM and have also had local black bees. The local bees were fine but didn't meet what I needed from them, the AMM were just plain nasty.
S

 

[beekeeping4you]

08.30 yesterday morning cloudy and not that warm - stiff breeze from the SE with the odd light shower
Hive 1 - quiet, the odd bee showing
Hive 2 - quiet,
Hive 3 - a steady stream of bees piling in and out
1400 yesterday
All hives extremely busy with lots of orientaton flights but more traffic in hive 3
Yesterday evening 19:30 hrs
Hive 1 - the odd bee showing
Hive 2 - the odd bee showing
Hive 3 - still a steady stream of bees but not as busy as lunchtime
The difference?
Hive 1 - Locally mated purebred Buckfast queen
Hive 2 - Locally mated purebred Buckfast queen
Hive 3 - West Walian bred 'dark' queen from a well known breeder

I like my buckies, but I am beginning to see a difference in their foraging

Hive 3 - Robbing a colony in the neighbourhood, not 'foraging'?

 

[Finman]

.
3 hives. You cannot make analysis among 3 hives.

You may have same hives in your yard and they show same differencies.

Foraging in your weather 19:30. Only purpose is robbing.


Much orientation flights. That is odd achievement.
.

My only goal is that how many kilos I exctract honey.

. You cannot find out how good they are if you look their flying.

.

 

[Swarm]

That's is exactly it! They are not a species, they are a strain.
For instance if a beekeeper has a strain of bees that has all the qualities desired then who is they to stop someone else with a slightly different strain but same qualities from pursuing their aims.
S

Whatever it is, it is indigenous. There is a haven on an island situation and you would be quite happy to see 'another' bee introduced, knowing what the outcome would be?
I'm astonished.

 

[mbc]

mbc - can you tell me what an Amm is (apart from dark, local and mongrel)?

I cant tell you what an Amm is but in my opinion the best bees to keep sustainably in my locality is the indigenous bee who is a hardy little beast with a ginger overcoat and kind demeanor.

 

[Hivemaker.]

There are up to 50 colonies on this island and have been there for at least 35 years with no signs of inbreeding , which in itself is interesting.

There was some talk about importing queens from either Tasmania or Denmark to help avoid any inbreeding problems.

 

[Finman]

.
AMM have lived on large area and it has many types and styles

It has meaning if it has breeded and selected or is it a mere result of loving.
Ordinary beekeeper does not mind much about selecting. First mistake is that he takes daughters from swarming hives.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hive 3 - Robbing a colony in the neighbourhood, not 'foraging'?

No - foraging, unless it's a bleddy big hive and it's lasted them nine months

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

.
Foraging in your weather 19:30. Only purpose is robbing.

.

Hot and sunny with us all day Finny apple trees alive with bees until late (still some bumbles working the blossom half an hour ago

.
Much orientation flights. That is odd achievement.
.

Why? don't you have young bees yet in your hives?

 

[Finman]

Hot and sunny with us all day Finny apple trees alive with bees until late (still some bumbles working the blossom half an hour ago



Why? don't you have young bees yet in your hives?

do I need to make report to internet when my young bees come out to make poo?

.if you look forecast, you see on in north Norway on Ice Sea 29 C .

If you have 18C - 20C, bees will not work near sun set in that weather.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

do I need to make report to internet when my bees are making poo?

.if you look forecast, you see on in north Norway on Ice Sea 29 C .

Don't makr crass comments then if you don't want a reply - i know your geography is a bit wobbly but i live nowhere near Norway (nor would i want to )

 

[mbc]

i live nowhere near Norway (nor would i want to )

Not even for the lovely salmon rivers ?