Gray Caucausian bee's

JackM · June 16, 2015, 09:33:11 AM

Just watched this video. Interesting new sub species of Caucausian bees with the longest probuscus of all bees and they do not sting!

I would be interested in getting some......somehow. Wonder how much they would cost?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vaNmdY-iWk

JackM · June 16, 2015, 09:46:40 AM

Interesting I found their site and have sent an email.

Anyone know if they are legal to import or how to find out if they are legal?
Thx
http://www.goldbee.ge/en/info.htm

Michael Bush · June 16, 2015, 01:53:06 PM

"Rarely sting" does not mean the same as "do not sting"...

Did you notice that the hives are horizontal?

biggraham610 · June 16, 2015, 02:22:22 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on June 16, 2015, 01:53:06 PM
"Rarely sting" does not mean the same as "do not sting"...

Did you notice that the hives are horizontal?

Have you ever fooled with Caucasians Michael? G

Michael Bush · June 16, 2015, 04:10:36 PM

Some. I liked them. If you don't mind not being able to let go of a frame because it's glued to your hand...

Hi-Tech · June 16, 2015, 05:22:46 PM

I ordered a package from www.caucasianbreeder.com 3 weeks ago but they haven't arrived yet. They say they have a line from Mr Bill Gaffords bees. I used to have and work Caucasians with Mr Bill Gafford (bolling bee)

Hi-Tech · June 16, 2015, 05:24:37 PM

they do sting but are generally not aggressive. I like them because they can work flowers the Italians cant work but they do love to put propolis everywhere.

JackM · June 17, 2015, 08:34:40 AM

Ok need to rephrase to "not aggressive"

In my searching the only USA source seems to have bad Ju Ju.

Yes I did note the horizontal hives and the different sizes and styles of frames too.

BUT how does one preserve the species when they can mate with other drones from any hive? True the first bred queen will be fine, but any offspring will bring/breed in the local genetics.

JackM · June 17, 2015, 08:51:33 AM

Do we have any feedback on this breeder noted above? A website is a website. Honesty and ability to do what they say is what counts.

Hi-Tech · June 17, 2015, 11:59:50 AM

I don't have any feed back yet other than to say I keep hearing "next week for sure" from him. When I initially spoke with him on the phone, he explained that they had 2 lines of Caucasians; true Caucasians from the country of Georgia and Bill Gaffords line from Alabama. Since I knew Mr Bill and not only helped him work bees on occasion, but also had some of his bees, that was the line I wanted from this breeder. Purely a nostalgic reasoning. However, I don't have them yet.

As for keeping Caucasians, I loved them. They were pretty calm most of the time but they weren't against a little robbing every now and then. They propolis everything and that can be challenging but over all I loved them. Also, since they were the first bees I ever kept, they just hold a sentimental place for me.

As for keeping the line pure... who can say. I know all of the Caucasian bees I have ever had were very dark and easy to tell apart from the Italians. Other than that, I guess its strictly the word of the breeder...

Eric Bosworth · June 17, 2015, 12:22:18 PM

Interesting... The key for me is how well they do in the winter. From what I understand Georgia has pretty hard winters. They are at about the same latitude as New Yuck. I would think with the Black Sea they would have quite a bit of moisture but it might also keep them a little warmer than the weather in New York. I kind of like propolis so that wouldn't bother me. It would like to see what they are like. If nothing else to add some genetic diversity to the local stock. JackM asked a good question... Is it legal to import them? The other question that is just as important is how much does it cost to import them?

I like the idea of starting with pure stock and slowly diluting that with local stock lines. The problem is that every so often you need to get a few new queens to keep diversity. For that reason I would argue that if you are going to start with new stock it would be best to import them from the source rather than get them from diluted stock that was imported 40 years ago. That said if you can't import them any more then get what you can.

Hi-Tech · June 17, 2015, 01:03:29 PM

These people imported the semen and bred them here for whatever that is worth...

http://caucasianbreeder.com/history.html

Eric Bosworth · June 17, 2015, 02:06:38 PM

Yeah I checked out their website as well. Just out of curiosity I tried to find import regulations. I came across this.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/?urile=wcm%3Apath%3A/APHIS_Content_Library/SA_Our_Focus/SA_Plant_Health/SA_Import/SA_Permits/SA_Plant_Pests/SA_Bees

I understand wanting to keep diseases out. I get that. But just banning outright seems a bit excessive. It seems to me that they had a bit of a backwards approach. They let all sorts of pests in by allowing weak genetics to be imported and then when the pests got here rather than bringing in good genetics they restricted importing. Typical case of government not knowing whats best.

JackM · June 18, 2015, 08:37:37 AM

Thanks for finding that link, I was pretty confident in today's world that the importation would be difficult at best. Invasive species is a real concern everywhere and I don't mind complying.

Yes, I have written a note to that breeder and had no response. Makes one wonder with the above statements if they are honest, I noted on their website they are primarily accountants first, beeks second. I can understand, but at least an answer to an email within 24 hours in the week should be minimum.

Myself I would be interested in the 'original' strain. I have no interest in trying to breed, too darn old.

Hi-Tech · June 18, 2015, 09:22:32 AM

Imm seeing a trend with their slow communication. I asked for an update on my package 2 days ago. No response yet...

deknow · June 18, 2015, 09:41:53 AM

There are extensive discussions on BS about this business/website and it's relationship to "long creek apiaries" which seems to have been a long running problem for customers.

rober · June 18, 2015, 09:45:16 AM

everything I've read says the dept of agriculture has pretty much banned the importation of bees. they've even made it extremely difficult to import sperm for laboratory research. while the site says importation is restricted it's near impossible to get a permit. I've been waiting 3 weeks for a reply to an e mail from this breeder.

Eric Bosworth · June 18, 2015, 11:11:31 AM

Quote from: JackM on June 18, 2015, 08:37:37 AM
Thanks for finding that link, I was pretty confident in today's world that the importation would be difficult at best. Invasive species is a real concern everywhere and I don't mind complying.

Yes, I have written a note to that breeder and had no response. Makes one wonder with the above statements if they are honest, I noted on their website they are primarily accountants first, beeks second. I can understand, but at least an answer to an email within 24 hours in the week should be minimum.

Myself I would be interested in the 'original' strain. I have no interest in trying to breed, too darn old.

I agree that invasive species are a real concern. My issue is that a blanket ban on importing is not the best approach to the problem. A better approach is to allow importing with inspections. By banning importation completely there is more incentive to bring things in illegally. It seems kind of strange to me that they talk about the decline of the honey bee and rather than try to bring in new genetics to help address the problem they make it difficult to import new genetic strains.

As far as not getting a response... It does raise a few questions... I would be interested in the original strain as well.

JackM · June 18, 2015, 04:18:02 PM

Quote from: Eric Bosworth on June 18, 2015, 11:11:31 AM
Quote from: JackM on June 18, 2015, 08:37:37 AM
Thanks for finding that link, I was pretty confident in today's world that the importation would be difficult at best. Invasive species is a real concern everywhere and I don't mind complying.

Yes, I have written a note to that breeder and had no response. Makes one wonder with the above statements if they are honest, I noted on their website they are primarily accountants first, beeks second. I can understand, but at least an answer to an email within 24 hours in the week should be minimum.

Myself I would be interested in the 'original' strain. I have no interest in trying to breed, too darn old.

I agree that invasive species are a real concern. My issue is that a blanket ban on importing is not the best approach to the problem. A better approach is to allow importing with inspections. By banning importation completely there is more incentive to bring things in illegally. It seems kind of strange to me that they talk about the decline of the honey bee and rather than try to bring in new genetics to help address the problem they make it difficult to import new genetic strains.

As far as not getting a response... It does raise a few questions... I would be interested in the original strain as well.

I agree completely. But the morons need to do the bull pooh to make the money for only themselves. It is a royal shame.

rober · June 19, 2015, 11:31:09 AM

I checked into getting caucasion bees 20 months ago & had no luck. I hope this site is legit as I am very interested in trying some of these bees.