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Date: | Wed, 1 Apr 1998 20:12:53 -0500 |
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Hi Ron
You have had the classic experience with the Starlines when they supercede.
The Starline is a four-way cross hybrid which when it 'back crosses' results
ina very nasty bee. I do not believe that the same is true of the other
hybrids - at least I have never heard such. I believe that Larry Connor was
instrumental in the development of the Starline (correct me if I'm wrong
Larry) and could give a good explanation of the genetic problem.
Gary Bradshaw
> -----Original Message-----
> From: INFORMED Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Ron Bogansky
> Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 1998 10:31 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Buckfast Queens
>
>
> Hi Gang,
> I have a question on Buckfast queens. I did a search in the archives and
> found many posts but none really answered my question. Does the Buckfast
> breed true? Assuming there are Buckfast drones will the
> daughters still be
> Buckfast, and if so how many generations (practical) will still
> be Buckfast?
>
>
> I have a colony that had a Starline queen that was superseded
> sometime late
> last season. Other that I noticed that the marked queen was gone
> the colony
> seemed OK. I decided to let go through winter and probably requeen in the
> spring. I checked that colony this week and they were extremely
> aggressive,
> especially compared to all the other colonies. They followed me
> back to the
> truck and would not give up. I did not see the queen but there was plenty
> of eggs and brood so she was there. She may be a second or third
> generation
> queen, but one things for sure, she's history.
>
> I have never used Buckfast, but my daughter is in an agricultural class
> where she and three other students will be starting colonies for
> a project.
> They ordered packages with Buckfast queens. I am assuming that with all
> the inexperienced handling they will be doing, a queen may be injured and
> replaced. I would not want these young beekeepers to come away with a bad
> and "painful" experience because of an aggressive colony. I do plan on
> trying to help these students.
>
> One humorous side note. This ag project requires a student to raise an
> animal for market. When my daughter told me she chose bees I told her I
> would give her whatever equipment she needed and we would make a split in
> April. I also told her I would start nucs for the other
> students. She said
> no that the teacher had order packages, but had suggested that my daughter
> use one of my colonies. She declined and said she wanted a package. I
> asked her why. She said she told the teacher she wanted to do the same as
> the other students, but she told me that when school is over they
> take them
> home. This way we get a "free" hive.
>
> Why don't I think like that? Maybe she should run the operation and I
> should work for her, although she would probably make me take a pay cut.
>
> Any information on the Buckfast question would be appreciated.
>
> Ron Bogansky
> Kutztown, PA
>
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