>I find this interesting... I have wondered about the possibility of strains
>that use supersedure not being as likely to co-operate in a queen rearing
>operation.
>
>
Hi Dave,
Almost all of my hives will supersede the old queen when she is due to
be replaced. Any swarms are my own fault when I don't give them space
enough, or make some other mistake. That is for the first generation
from selected stock mated in area where I control the drone population.
F2 queens in production hives mated with local drones have a bigger
chance of swarming the second year. They are usually replaced by me with
reared queens within a year.

I would not use hives prone for swarming as finishers. They will try to
make their own queens and generally cause all kinds of trouble. I don't
see a link between bees prone to swarming and ability to produce good
cells.

>I am using strains with high AMM content, what race are you using ?
>
>
Buckfast with a mix of monticola, saharensis, carnica, ligustica, and
heaven knows what else... ;-) Even some AMM, I'm afraid. I deliberately
mixed in as much different genetics I could find when starting this
breeding program. All gentle non swarming bees that produced good was
selected. After 4 years they produce good, have more vigour, and are
still so gentle we rarely use veils. That is a closed population program.

--
Regards

P-O Gustafsson, Sweden
[log in to unmask]  http://www.algonet.se/~beeman/

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