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 I have a colony that had a Starline queen that was superseded 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 >