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Subject:
From:
Roy Nettlebeck <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 13 Mar 1996 16:46:57 -0800
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On Wed, 13 Mar 1996, David Verville wrote:
 
> >Queens are programmed to swarm in the second year, and it's very difficult
> >to stop them.
>
>  >[log in to unmask]                                   Dave Green
> >Dave's Pollination Service         Eastern Pollinator New>
> I was under the impression that queen breeders used non-swarming behavior
> as a criteria when selecting breeders.
> I have also heard that swarming is probable one of the easiest traits
> to "breed" out of bees.  Southern queen/package dealers need millions and
> millions of bee each spring to meet orders.  Therefore they breed queens
> that build up extremely fast in the spring. Although these queens
> build up rapidly, they are also carrying the swarming trait, and when
> congested, swarm.
> Ever have a hive just busting at the seams and not swarm?
> While others 1/10th the size cast off swarms all summer long?
 
 Hello , I have seen the two questions above happen more than once.
  I use to run 3 deeps as brood chamber. I would rotate them and have 3
deeps full of brood.I would requeen every year and did get a large crop
every year. Twenty hives was the max that I ran.It was a lot of work and
I did learn some of the behavior of the bees ,when the flow would slow
down,egg laying would slow also. Once the hive would slow down its
expansion , it would never get back to its original brood production rate.
 I like carniolans and have been using them for 25 years. They build up
very fast and winter well. The New World carni should not give a problem
with swarming. The reason I said should not ,is because I have had some
one year that did seem to want to swarm. That was a breeder problem , not
a breed problem.
 Anyone who has raised there own queens , knows that it is not as easy as
just following along in a book.The starter hive has to be full of young
bees and in very good condition. Plenty of good fresh pollen.
The cell builder needs good attention also.
 We need good breeding stock and good queen Breeders. I belive we have
some very good queen breeders. We need to tell them if we have a problem
, so they can fix it  if it is there problem. I will say , that some
beekeepers are bringing on some problems by themselves.Everybody starts
at the begining , so we should help each other as we can.
 Swarming is complex ,its not just too many bees in a box.
 Have a great one
Roy

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