>Ted Fischer >Dexter, Michigan USA >Is there any information as to the race of these bees? Are they >Caucasion or Carniolan bees, or some other race? > Dear Beefriends According to one Russian "Handbook for beekeeper", 1984, Moscow, by NL Burenin, UDK 638.1 (031) the races are as follows (in the area of the former SU): Middle Russian - natural area Middle and North Europe. Brought in North America-17 century, South America and Australia - 18 century, Asia - 19 century.They are the greatest except Italian race. Aggressive. Very swarming. Not suitable for south areas. Length - 5.6 to 6.3 mm, one day mass 110 mg, unmated queen -190 mg, mated - 200 to 210 mg, lays up to1500 - 2000 eggs daily. Honey yield 12.7 to 41 kg/hive/year (average 28 kg, yield depends on region). Nothing is said about Varroa resistance. Grey Caucasian (of mountains) - natural area mountain area of North Caucasus and behind Caucasus. Very peaceful. The longest tongue of all races - 6.6 to 7.2 mm, mass-90, queen mass - 180 (200), eggs 1100 to 1500. Low swarming. Honey yield 4 to 58, average 29kg. Yellow Caucasian - natural area lowland of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaidzhan. Tongue 6.5 to 6.9, mass 80 to 90, queen mass 180 (200), eggs 1100 to 1700, good for hot dry climate, don't vent hive in heat just sit calmly. Peaceful. Carpathian , (mountains Ukraine) - tongue - 6.3 to 7.0, mass 110, queen 185 (205), eggs 1200 to 1800. Very peaceful, honey 30 to 40 kg. Ukrainian steppe - natural area South Ukraine, derived of Middle Russian south branch , tongue 6.3 to 6.7, mass 105, queen mass 180 (200), eggs 1100 to 1500. Middle aggressiveness, honey 30 to 40 kg. Maybe, it helps. Best wishes Rimantas Zujus Kaunas LITHUANIA e-mail : [log in to unmask] http://www.online.lt/indexs.htm http://www.lei.lt 55 North, 24 East