I live in cool, wet Western Washington, and am going to get bees this spring. I need to know what kind of bees do well in this area. Doing well, to me, means disease and mite resistance, productive at cooler temperatures, overwinter well. Gentle is necessary too, since these will be in-town bees. Any input? Thanks!

-- Laura Rae Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

I have Carnolians which I think are the gentlest bee. I don't know how they would do in cool, wet Western Washington weather. I live in frigid winter and hot summer NE Indiana.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

Laura, you might contact your Country Extension Service. Most of them have bee keepers on call who go out and collect swarms and I bet they could give you some good tips re productive strains. Just a thought. Good luck, we need more bee keepers here in the Northwest! I see almost no true honeybees anymore. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 06, 2002.

Laura, I agree the Carniolans are the gentelest of bees. I have had good luck with Russian-Carniolan cross. The Russians are very disease resistant (NO Mites) and very hardy. I live in Upstate NY. They fly at 45 degrees. The Carniolans produce a bitmore propolis than other types (you have to unglue the frames a bit more)but you don't have to "gear up" so much to do basic maintenance. I have never had Italians, but have heard they tend to be so productive they produce more brood than they can resonably support, and will need a fair amount of help to get through the winter. More a commercial type. Anyway, welcome to beekeeping! Mary.

-- Mary Goias (mary43g@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

Laura, I am a beekeeper in Oly Wa. If you will E-amil me, I can send you some info and help get you started on the right track...

laura too

-- Laura (Lauramleek@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

Mary,

Where do you buy the Russian-Carnolian cross?

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002.

To "R"-

I get my Russian-Carniolan bees from Bob Brachmann, 759D Maples Rd, Little Valley, NY 14755. 716 699-4145. He sells queens and nucs. I can pick them up since I'm in the area, but he ships by mail as well. Call after 6pm. Mary

-- Mary Goias (mary43g@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

honey bees,, any other isnt worht the time

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 08, 2002.