> Can anyone provide me references/citations re temperament of F1 crosses of
> Italian and Carniolans?   And particularly if directionality of the cross
> affects the result?

I will summarize some of what is in "Breeding the Honeybee" By Brother Adams
Page 99

Carnolians tend to be swarmy

Carnolians may be the key in unlocking hidden potential of other races

I regard her as  essential  for cross breeding purposes

....where there is a question of a general "utility" cross, Carnolian drones
s/b used in every case ..a reciprocal cross...produces very often a bad
tempered bee and at the same time a first cross of little..economic value.

The F1 will tend to be swarmy followed by a decrease in this tendency in
later generations(I assume he is referring to carnolian queen used) where
some usefulness might be found(this sentence is a rough summary-others are
almost exact quotes)
--------end of info on carnolians-------

If there is a close second to this book documenting the various races of the
honeybee and their various characteristics, I would sure like to know of it.
I will warn you however that reading this book will break your heart as you
realize how much genetic diversity we have almost certainly  lost.
I have wondered at times why there isn't a major effort to preserve the
various strains of the honeybee
(is there?)

Other great book by Bro Adams:"Beekeeping at Buckfast".
I Have never in my experience encountered anything in beekeeping that
contradicted anything written in these two books.
John Horton
N Alabama

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