Talking Russian Honey Bees with Dr. Tom Rinderer and Steve Coy (S2, E32)

[@BrianJMader54476]

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[@temijinkahn511]

We need more Russian genetics. The commercial keepers keep using weak genetics that require chemicals to survive mites. The Russian bees also winter over much better than Italians. We need to breed for better genetics as the mites will out evolve any chemical. Amateur beekeepers should only be using Russians.

[@jacobe1942]

thanks, I am about to jump into bee keeping and considering russians for michigan

[@temijinkahn511]

@@jacobe1942 As bad as your winters are in Michigan, they are nothing like Siberia. The Russian Sikorsky honeybees survived and evolved to handle the cold and the mites. There are some special traits of Russians you need to study up on. Your drones will add Russian genetics to the gene pool in your area. Note that queens matting in your area from splits or superceedures will most likely brood up hybrid bees which will have diluted traits. Only if you replace lost russian queens with the same will you be able to keep the traits. Commercial keepers save weak genetic hives with chemicals when they would have died naturally. They keep the gene pool weak and retard the natural evolution that would normally take place in nature. Russian bees and Africanized bees both have defenses against varroa. Commercial keepers do not want to change their business practices to accommodate these bee types. Breeding out bad traits and breeding in good traits is doable but commercial keeper perpetuate the problems with weak italian genetics year after year. They, rightly so, factor in dead outs and chemical costs into the business plan. The goals of commercial and hobbyist beekeepers are not the same. Good genetics, brood breaks after summer solstice and powdered sugar treatments monthly to control mites is easily doable for hobbyists but too labor intensive for commercial folks.

[@jacobe1942]

@@temijinkahn511 thank you for the response, I am quite newand jumping in to the deep end of the pool expecting to swim, it is those starting traits I like since I will be going treatment free. I have a couple options..... a russian nuc box from the sounth early, or a wintered one from Mi but 4-6 weeks later (note I will have to get them to accept a layens hive frame ) or a much cheaper italian package that will be easier to get into my layens hive? Im just starting out and want to be successful, but do realize many first colonies die off. thank you again

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

At least here, anything overwinters better than Italians.