calmest bees

[robertodemarco]

just wondered what people's views are on which strain is the calmest & easiest to manage, also bees with brighy yellow stripes#what' strain are they?

 

[Silly Bee]

Bright yellow?

Wasps?

 

[Poly Hive]

All bee types are calm in lovely weather. some stay calm when thundry but not many.

What is your priority? Honey? Non stinging? or prolificness?

PH

 

[PaleoPerson]

My preference are for two colonies at an out apiary obtained from a captured swarm last year, what strain? who knows.

Prolific - very
Honey - very good so far
Temperament - excellent
Defensive - They hate wasps
Propolis - Little
Housekeeping - very good
Swarmy - Hmmmm!

 

[Midland Beek]

bees with brighy yellow stripes#what' strain are they?

Italian/ligustica bees are very yellowy. Most strains called 'Buckfast' are quite possibly more ligustica than anything else. I have found Ligustica-type bees to be calm. Any ligustica-type bees I have had, I haven't had them by accident - I have bought queens.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

In my experience, the calmest bees are the dead ones. Trouble is, they are not terribly productive!

 

[Bucks_Boy]

In my experience, the calmest bees are the dead ones. Trouble is, they are not terribly productive!

I have a colony that I raised from my calmest queen last year that is so laid back you would think it's been to an Amsterdam Cafe.

Theres lots of nectar brought in and there's loads of bees but absolutly no rushing about, even flying out it's more like bumble speed.

It's been the first I've tried to handle gloveless and they were a joy.


So the answer is, if you want calm bees, breed your own

 

[johnandyrob]

I have a colony that I raised from my calmest queen last year that is so laid back you would think it's been to an Amsterdam Cafe.

Theres lots of nectar brought in and there's loads of bees but absolutly no rushing about, even flying out it's more like bumble speed.

It's been the first I've tried to handle gloveless and they were a joy.


So the answer is, if you want calm bees, breed your own

If you have a calm colony to breed from

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

In my experience, the calmest bees are the dead ones. Trouble is, they are not terribly productive!

But on the plus side they dont swarm very often

 

[victor meldrew]

I have a colony that I raised from my calmest queen last year that is so laid back you would think it's been to an Amsterdam Cafe.

Theres lots of nectar brought in and there's loads of bees but absolutly no rushing about, even flying out it's more like bumble speed.

It's been the first I've tried to handle gloveless and they were a joy.


So the answer is, if you want calm bees, breed your own

Good idea until a newbie acquires a carni nuc 1 mile away

John Wilkinson

 

[robertodemarco]

yellow bees

I used to take my bees to the heather,& another keeper used the same moor-his bees had bright yellow stripes (not wasps), I just wondered which strain they were, appreciated all of the comments.
on another note, I started a nuc off my calmest bees-no need for gloves & on calm days-no veil (I know-silly).
The nuc is fully established & is not one to go near unless fully suited-just goes to show you think you know it all & the buggers bring you back to reality with a bang.