What sort of queen has the most gentle traits?

[sjt]

One of my hives is queenless and so I may have to buy in a queen. Above all I want a quiet, gentle colony, not too bothered about honey production.
What is considered to be the queen most likely to have gentle progeny?

I have been told that Buckfast are gentle but second year cross can be the opposite.

 

[Finman]

-What I have met Caucasian is the most gentle

 

[Swarm]

But isn't the second generation mellifera cross reputed to be ill tempered?

 

[MathJ]

I wouldn't get a carniolan queen, I've had a few and they have all been very swarmy.

 

[susbees]

One of my hives is queenless and so I may have to buy in a queen. Above all I want a quiet, gentle colony, not too bothered about honey production.
What is considered to be the queen most likely to have gentle progeny?

I have been told that Buckfast are gentle but second year cross can be the opposite.

Local queen from a beekeeper with quiet, productive bees. Ask around your local association.

 

[Tom Bick]

A friend has New Zealand Italians and to me it is almost impossible to get them to sting.

Carnolan bees are also gentle but they are the first to swarm and then perhaps swarm again.

I prefer Buckfast they are gentle originally developed in this country and available from a UK breeder.

All have a reputation of producing nasty bees when you get a couple of generations from the original queen and I have experienced this with a Carnolan queen and that was not a very pleasant experience but have had no problem with Buckfast queens and for me would recommend Buckfast.

 

[madasafish]

A friend has New Zealand Italians and to me it is almost impossible to get them to sting.

Carnolan bees are also gentle but they are the first to swarm and then perhaps swarm again.

I prefer Buckfast they are gentle originally developed in this country and available from a UK breeder.

All have a reputation of producing nasty bees when you get a couple of generations from the original queen and I have experienced this with a Carnolan queen and that was not a very pleasant experience but have had no problem with Buckfast queens and for me would recommend Buckfast.

I have 2nd generation carnies and first generation Buckfast carnie crosses (!) - all excellent temper (so far).