I have a question about the reported brood rearing shutdown or reduction with the NWC and Russian bees during periods of nectar flow drop-off.  In lower New York state, the spring/early summer flow is over by the 2nd week in July and golden rod does not start to bloom en-mass until the 2nd week in August.

Would NWC and Russian bees need a little stimulation during these 4 weeks to keep raising brood in order to have strong populations for the golden rod flow?  Most of my queens are Italian crosses and they seem to slow down their brood rearing only slightly but I have been pondering changing over to a good Russian stock (like Purvis Brothers' Blue Line).

Anybody know?

Waldemar
Long Island, NY

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