Aaron Morris wrote:
> I have so far not been able to get any Russian stock. The long anticipated
> arrival is not yet here.
>
I have acquired two Russian queens from Strachan Apiaries in California. They
were my second try. The first was sold out. I paid a premium price, but they
arrived last weekend and I installed them.
"It appears that the Russian stock is "hesitant" to interact with non-Russian
lineage "
Interesting that you would mention this. Five days after I installed one of the
Russian queens in a nuc I went in to find her still in the cage. That happens
once in a while. But, when I pulled the screen off and encouraged her to exit
onto a frame of brood, she seemed to not want to leave the cage. I would call
her "hesitant." I have not experienced this with other queens before.
The bees were quite interested in her. I could not tell if this was positive or
negative. She ultimately disappeared down a frame with a large court of
workers. I hope it was a welcoming party and not a lynch mob.
Larry Krengel
Marengo, IL USA