> From: Robert Brenchley <[log in to unmask]> > But as I said in an earlier > post, I can normally handle them without worrying about stings. When I find > Italian hybrids over here Hello Robert, Thought we would hear from you..:-) I hope you don't refer to Buckfast as "Italian hybrids", as that would really prove my point of limited knowledge among some UK beeks of what Buckfast is. I get a bit frustrated with this kind of statements. And yes, I have had a.m.m. myself. Also Ligustica, Carnica and every mix between them in my commercial operation. To me, Buckfast is the best from different races mixed together in a bee that gives me the best possibility to make a living from them. And no, mixes between races don't produce hot bees if both lines are gentle to start with. Believe me, I have done it. Buckfast is here among most considered the gentlest of all races...and the race that best can handle mixing with other races without getting hot. We had a US friend visiting in August when we were taking last honey off and preparing for winter. He had one of those cameras that can record video, and I have uploaded some clips to Youtube that you can watch yourself and see how we work our bees. We rarely use veils, sometimes on a rainy day if we have to dig into the brood nest. Looking for a queen to change: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1CkEL1Cork Feeders on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Bx-fn4Xxs When it comes to gentleness my criteria is bees that never fly up in your face. A sting on the hand if you move too fast is tolerated. This is Buckfast bees, not any mongrel you might have experienced in the UK....:-) -- Regards P-O Gustafsson, Sweden http://beeman.se ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************