Joe Waggle wrote:


I'm seriously considering obtaining 
 few Italian queens from a commercial 
ource.  My intent is to interject some
enteelness into the gene pool, and  
rolific egg laying abilities. 

If you currently have something that works, don't spoil it!  It seems as if you have a stable, well adusted, local strain. If you introduce something from away you might first produce 'hybrid vigour' which often manifests itself in bad temper in subsequent generations. Also there is the possibility that breeding at a modest rate might be helping to keep Varroa at modest levels. Profificacy for one might mean prolificacy for all!

Chris


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