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Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:58:59 -0600 |
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Bear Creek Honey |
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Harsh winter region - Wisconsin...but mild winter in comparison to the norm.
4 colonies out of 14 to start Winter have very limited activity and
plenty of remaining stores. 7 are very active and have run through all
their stores and 3 have starved out by January 4th (all double deep
boxes but that is irrelevant to the topic) . 7 were given supplemental
feed in January.
Out of the 4 inactive colonies slow-playing their stores, three are
locally mated queens (mutts) and one is a California Italian from a package.
Is Winter-hardiness a genetic trait that can get passed along?
I understand there are "strains" of bees that have "traits"...like
Italians that tend to brood up very early in winter which is not a good
trait in northern climates. Carniolans that brood up later, but then can
catch up in brood production to the Italians in early spring, and
Russians that tend to shut down significantly in winter and start
later...which may be why they are more cranky.
Are their studies to suggest you can select this trait?
Frankly speaking, for Northern climate beeks, it's the #1 trait needed.
If the bees cannot make it through winter without nursing them through
it, then it's a fruitless endeavor breeding for other traits such as
VSH, honey production, etc.
Simply getting them through a winter cannot be enough.
--
Kevin M
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