Hello George -

> Why not introduce a Russian Queen to a group of bees WITH NO FOUNDATION OR
> DRAWN COMB and see what size natural comb is made?

All this would prove is the propensity in comb size the worker bees have
that the Russian queen was joined with. I believe the queen does not
regulate the size of the comb or workers, but the other way around. The size
of the bees in a colony are regulated by the size of the workers which
regulates the size of the queen and drones. The worker bees are the comb
builders in which the queen has to lay in.

> The Russian bee is Carniolan stock, I was told by Baton Rouge people.  As you

This does not line up with the information I've been told. I've heard the
Russian bees are a small hybrid Caucasian bee. The Russian bees are said to
be totally removed from the Italian and Carnolian bees, genetically, which
are out of the alps, north of Italy. The Carnolian bees are closer relatives
to Italian. Neither come close to the Caucasian Russian bees which is how
these are classified, and they are small. Since most  beekeepers are
introducing them into our popular varieties they are having trouble, which
in the Midwest where I live, is Italian and Carnolian. They say there is no
problem introducing them into Caucasian type stocks here in the U.S., but
few beekeepers like small black bees as you know. Bill Gafford of Bolling
Bee is doing a good business right now with his Caucasian stock, helping out
beekeepers who bought the Russian stock, to give them compatibility. I don't
know if the beekeeping public has been aware of this solution.

> difficult introduction would be involved with genetics and bee behavior of
> the race
> rather than cell size.

I don't disagree that genetics and behavior play a part. I do believe though
that size does factor into the equation and maybe to a greater extent than
one might think.

Perhaps someone from ARS could add to this?

Regards,
Barry

--
Webmeister
www.BeeSource.com