Bob wrote; >My objection to the Russian has been with their other traits
which would be
fine for a hobby beekeeper.
More and more commercial beekeepers are successfully using Russian bees. It
is wonderful to be able to produce a honey crop and not have to worry about
whether your honey is contaminated with mite or disease control chemicals.
It is also a great feeling not to worry about winter survival. Also you and
others are using the term, "mite tolerant". Russian bees may be more
tolerant to mites than other bees but more importantly they are mite
resistant. Is it only tolerance when they actively remove vorroa infected
brood? Is it only tolerance when they groom the mites off their body and
hive mates body? Is it only tolerance when they chew the legs off mites? Is
it only tolerance when they carry mites out and drop them in the grass? This
is mite resistance.
I hope that Mite resistant bees are in the future for all beekeepers. The
genes are available. The bees can do it. Let use give the bees a chance.
Carl Webb
******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm *
******************************************************