Buckfast or Carnica ... Which to choose?

[B+.]

But there are other beekeepers and native ferals in chimneys.

Thats fine if they are the bees you want but you don't have control. You could end up with very nasty bees

 

[B+.]

Hmmm. My current buckfast lot have been quite aggressive recently, so I might replace them with Carnica.
Still contemplating

Its odd that one of Brother Adams breeding objectives was a docile bee. It just goes to show that other people control the reigns now and his ideals have not been paid sufficient attention.

 

[jonnybeegood]

Originally Posted by B+.
The enemy is inbreeding since you are starting with a small population.

But there are other beekeepers and native ferals in chimneys.

Are we talking about bees or beekeepers here, & why are beekeepers up chimneys?

 

[Finman]

Are we talking about bees or beekeepers here, & why are beekeepers up chimneys?

It is more obvious than pure AMM in chimney.

 

[wessexmario]

Is there a good online reference that will help identify between the different subspecies?

(something a beek can do, not something needing a genome sequencing machine!)

 

[Finman]

Is there a good online reference that will help identify between the different subspecies?

(something a beek can do, not something needing a genome sequencing machine!)

Vain work. What do you do with that knowledge?

Subspecies and 1000 variations between those pure signs.

And pure strain is a result of mad beekeepers' imagination. Where are mongrels, it us vain to seek pure bees and read bees' wing veins.

I wonder, from where comes a need of "pure", when it is impossible even in theory.

 

[B+.]

Is there a good online reference that will help identify between the different subspecies?

(something a beek can do, not something needing a genome sequencing machine!)

Morphometry is about as close as a beekeeper can get http://www.coloss.org/beebook/I/subspecies-ecotypes

 

[Cussword]

Hmmm. My current buckfast lot have been quite aggressive recently, so I might replace them with Carnica.
Still contemplating

why don't you just requeen with good buckfasts?

 

[wessexmario]

Vain work. What do you do with that knowledge?

Subspecies and 1000 variations between those pure signs.

And pure strain is a result of mad beekeepers' imagination. Where are mongrels, it us vain to seek pure bees and read bees' wing veins.

I wonder, from where comes a need of "pure", when it is impossible even in theory.

I have no doubt that mine are anything but pure mongrels, they have a lovely temperament, so I'm just interested in what I have (the same interest as a dog owner might say "there's a bit of Jack Russell/Labrador/Poodle in that dog somewhere")
I know the previous owner of my hives bought in queens some years before but I don't have any records of what they were.

 

[Nige.Coll]

I cannot find fault with the local dark mongrels I have.
Swaping over to those slowly and will eventually remove any buckfast derived bees from my apiary.

 

[B+.]

why don't you just requeen with good buckfasts?

I think the problem is: how do you know which ones are good and which aren't

 

[madasafish]

I think the problem is: how do you know which ones are good and which aren't

I know a supplier of great tempered Buckfasts on A Beekeeping Business in Exmoor...

(Will I be moderated for advertising? ))))

 

[domino]

I've never bought in queens but as I look to start breeding queens I'm wondering about buying in some decent bees. How common is it that they become more defensive than if you just stick with your local mongrels?

 

[madasafish]

I've never bought in queens but as I look to start breeding queens I'm wondering about buying in some decent bees. How common is it that they become more defensive than if you just stick with your local mongrels?

Local mongrels here run on combs, quite defensive.

I find it takes 2 - 3 generations for Carnies/Buckfast to equal them...

 

[B+.]

Local mongrels here run on combs, quite defensive.

I find it takes 2 - 3 generations for Carnies/Buckfast to equal them...

I find it takes 2-3 local mongrels to equal one of my Carniolans

 

[Thymallus]

Is there a good online reference that will help identify between the different subspecies?

You can have a look at this review that details most of the standard methods used and their shortfalls and positive points.

 

[wessexmario]

You can have a look at this review that details most of the standard methods used and their shortfalls and positive points.

Your link points to a C: drive - I don't have one of those...

 

[Thymallus]

Yes you do....
Try a google search for ..... Standard methods for characterising subspecies and
ecotypes of Apis mellifera
For some reason posting a link doesn't work.
It's open access so you can download the pdf.

 

[wessexmario]

Yes you do....

Oh no I don't... because I use Linux (computer Wizard)

Try a google search for ..... Standard methods for characterising subspecies and ecotypes of Apis mellifera
For some reason posting a link doesn't work.
It's open access so you can download the pdf.

I found this PDF which looks to be the right one: Standard methods for characterising subspecies and ecotypes of Apis mellifera

Thanks T.

 

[Thymallus]

Oh no I don't... because I use Linux (computer Wizard)

What does Linux call your hard drive?
It's an interesting appraisal of the methods though.