In a message dated 22/11/2008 00:49:13 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<I would say just persist with the bees you like, no matter what  the 
morphometry says. Its all a bit nazi to me, perfectly good bees  rejected 
because their wing venation is not as desired. I am a perfectly  happy 
local strain/mongrels owner.
-- 
Murray  McGregor>>


    On the whole I agree with you there, but I am  curious as to how much 
outcrossing actually does happen. My experience of  hybrids has been worse than 
yours; I've tried them twice, and had bad-tempered  bees both times. But I may 
well be fussier than you; I have close neighbours,  and make it policy to 
requeen any colony which tries to sting (as opposed to the  odd sting on my hand) 
when opened. It seems to work; I've kept colonies on my  allotment for ten 
years now, and never had complaints. 
 
I almost replied to another post of yours just now, when you said your bees  
build up in May. Did they do so at the normal time this year?  

Regards,

Robert Brenchley
Birmingham  UK


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