In message <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask] writes
in answer top the question
>> What breed(s) are common in the UK?
>>
>> The native is Amm, but over the years there have been many imports of
>> Italians especially, and of course the Buckfast was developed here.  Therefore
>we
>> now have mainly mongrels with strong Amm influence with pockets of fairly pure
>> Amm especially in the north where conditions are harsher.
and south west and Wales, especially in the higher ground and further
west and south. Sometimes people import carnicans. That makes it a bit
harder to distinguish the hybrids from those predominantly Amm. The race
was, like carnicans, widely spread throughout Europe north of the
mountains that divide north from south and had many variants or
subraces. So they vary widely across the UK and Ireland, France and in
north eastern Europe, where they are alive and well.

Our own "Cornish bee" winters well, is more prolific than the books say
in the earlier springs and lower altitudes, expands well from early
spring and can swarm early if sufficient space is not given. Many
colonies seem to give low mite fall as well as obviously hygienic and
are good candidates for selection and breeding. Our Cornwall Bee
Improvement Group has made a small start with getting on for 200
colonies amongst its 20 odd members. The intention is to exchange less
promising queens in each apiary with daughter queens from one parent
mated in one apiary so that the next year should improve the drones from
that apiary. Ideally strains are maintained by local area exchange where
possible. Expansion of the area covered coupled with queen change will
hopefully show some improvement over the years, especially as more
members come into the group.
--
James Kilty

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