Identifying specific bees

[B+.]

Jo is correct IMOHO that just keeping records of crosses does not necessarily make for bee improvement and better bee breeding... selection of the traits the beekeeper seeks do that... and before hand get placed on arses, Bee Improvement and Bee Breeding Arrangements* (BIBBA) can cut across ALL typed of honey bee.. SHIRLEY !

That's what I thought. I was wrong. It's a black-bee or no-bee group....at least, in my experience!

 

[For want of a better word]

Not a very reputable seller then.
.....name and shame.

I do not think that would beez too much of a good idea... not a good idea at all!!!.... in their defense I did not get the impression that the person on the end of the phone had much of a clue of what they was talking about!

Anyway for naming and shaming I could get thrown out of the Tufty Club for casting dispercians

Yeghes da

 

[Murox]

That's what I thought. I was wrong. It's a black-bee or no-bee group....at least, in my experience!

It was also my experience too - BIBBA was only interested in "black bees" when I made some enquiries a year or so ago.

 

[Walrus]

I love productive gentle healthy honey bees - don't care what colour they are

 

[Erichalfbee]

I love productive gentle healthy honey bees - don't care what colour they are

Same here.
I have black and orange bees. I enjoy them both though they are different.

 

[For want of a better word]

All mine are sweeties too... even them ones mining into the Skibber and removing my lime motar!

 

[Beefriendly]

Anyway for naming and shaming I could get thrown out of the Tufty Club for casting dispercians

If your facts are accurate and correct you have nothing to fear.
As I've always maintained when purchasing queens choose your breeder with extreme care. In general I have found the stack 'em high sell 'em cheap importers to be, shall we say, not as careful about what they sell you. Bought some Carnies once from one of them....those gentle bees...Ha HA....these would follow and attack my truck for a good half mile after an inspection.
Reminded me very much of the generic local bees in my area that I was desperately trying to get away from (literally and figuratively).

I've now kept most of the mainstream bees in my apiaries and very interesting it has all been. As Erica points out, they are not all equal.

 

[Murox]

I love productive gentle healthy honey bees - don't care what colour they are

Me too - I just made the "mistake" of asking questions about others and got an (politely said) 'odd' response.

 

[Ian123]

Don’t worry it works both ways seen a few nice gentle black bee colonies sold to some that looked suspiciously like carnica

 

[Beefriendly]

Me too - I just made the "mistake" of asking questions about others and got an (politely said) 'odd' response.

Me thinks some are far too pro-motive of "the bee type they keep" to appreciate the attributes of other strains. I know what works well in my geographic locality, but would be hesitant to suggest it would work in yours.
I tried many different strains before finding what worked for me. I think it might be the approach you need to take to make your own mind up.

 

[Swarm]

I identified a specific bee, it was what I could only call albino, no that would not be right as it had normal black eyes etc, possibly melanistic? Anyway, it was grey in appearance and visited my oregano for over a week. The state of her wings in the end, it was a wonder she could fly.