Hello Carl & All,
I agree about the Russian bees when given a strong fall flow will winter in
larger clusters. I reported same years ago on BEE-L. The first year with my
first 100 Russian/Russian queens the bees wintered on very small clusters.
Way to small to send to almonds and make the grade.
The next winter I had around 200 Russian/Russian and moved half into the
Blackwater River bottoms on around a thousand acres of pink smartweed. Those
hives winter strong. Those left on average fall forage had small clusters.
I am looking forward to the Russian/Russian queens I am getting through the
new Russian queen breeders program.
bob

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