Dee,
If you look closely at a line differences appear. I like to test a large
number to get a clearer picture. Several of the lines I talked about I am
evaluating for commercial beekeepers.

Hobby beekeepers can delete now as what I am about to say is mostly of
interest to those keeping bees for a living.

The Russian bee for example has many undesirable traits in my opinion (at
least for a beekeeper keeping bees for honey production & pollination).

But the negative traits can be overcome by management practices.

The plus is varroa & tracheal mite tolerance and wintering ability. I also
rate requeening after swarming as a very important Russian trait.

The negative is shutting down every time the weather changes  and  a small
winter cluster.

 Management is the only way to get the Russian/Russian bee to
winter on a large cluster in my opinion. All the four Russian lines I looked
at were alike in the above points. I did discover minor important
differences between the different  lines.

What I have said I don't think those which have kept the Russian bee would
argue with. You have got two choices. Come up with a cross which eliminates
the undesirable traits (for your purpose)  or use management practices.

Each of the lines I worked with were different in some aspects.

I am painting the lines I looked at with a broad brush Dee to give you an
idea. I could spend an hour talking about each line.

The Italian lines I last looked at are easier to evaluate as the good points
are always honey production & prolific.
.
Undesirable traits for my area are brooding too far into the fall and in
many cases susceptible to tracheal mites. Once I understand the undesirable
I
can recommend a method of improving the performance of a line of bees.

Three seasons is the time usually needed to evaluate a line. Fifty queens is
the least in my opinion to use for testing and a 100 is better. Once you
understand the traits you think are undesirable for your area then certain
management practices can solve most issues.

All beekeeping is local.

All I know about your bees Dee is they are small and black to dark brown.
Allen Dick said they were gentle and had good brood patterns but he did see
varroa (which is not a big deal to me as long as they are surviving).

I can take the discussion off list if you like. Just email and say so. I
don't want to put you on the spot just curious about your line of bees..

Bob

Ps. In certain areas of the world the beekeeper uses a certain queen for a
certain floral source. Requeens with another queen for a different floral
source honey production. I did experiments years ago and got results. Not a
big deal if you raise your own queens,

Use an italian for honey production in Dakota and say a carniolan to winter
on. I consider the queen the lifeblood of the hive. Other commercial
beekeepers see all queens in the same light. As long as they see eggs or
brood then everything is ok regardless of production or wintering ability.

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