Can you tell what kind of bees I have from a picture?

[tillie]

When I bought my nuc I was told that the bees were a combination of Carnolian and Russian bees.  I'm curious if anyone can tell what kind they are from this picture:

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6269/2875/640/DSC00842.0.jpg

Some appear to be orange striped while others are black - I've never seen the queen in either hive.  Would I be able to tell from seeing her?

I know Russian bees are more aggressive and I've noticed that the guard bees in one of my hives are being more aggressive when I visit - just when I visit - not when I inspect.  I've had the hives for five weeks now and thought maybe the babies are Russian and are now grown enough to guard the hive.

Linda T in Atlanta  :?

[ctsoth]

The Gold ones are probably russian, and the blackish carniolans if it was/is a mixed nuc.  I suppose you should have a basic idea of what breed you have when your down to one color.

[Brian D. Bray]

Ahh the joys of packaged bees.  Run a little short of Italians, add a few Carnolians or russian, or bukfast or...
As the old bees die off and the new ones hatch the color will become uniform and then you should see the primary color of that associated with the queen genealogy.

[rusty]

Hi There,

The black and grey banded ones look very much like Carniolians, and the orange ones could be Italian Russian or even Buckfast.,It depends where the agression is coming from, Buckfast bees are remarkably calm and well behaved although, I think Italians can be a bit stroppy, A Buckfast Queen (my preffered Bee) is usually big and fat and orangy red.

Whatever they are they look good bees and eventually one or the other colour will become predominant. You have a very nice frame there I would be proud of it.

Rusty

[Michael Bush]

When a bee supplier sells "a package of Russian bees" they just mean a package of honey bees with a Russian queen.  They don't mean anything about the race of the bees, just the queen  In a month they will be Russian bees.

[Brian Sisson]

I have no idea about your question, but have one of my own-
In your picture, is that comb on the bottom of the frame what you all call a "swarm cell"?

[tillie]

Hi Brian,

The comb on the bottom of the frame is broken-off burr comb that the bees sometimes make between the frames.  I think they use it as a passageway both for themselves and/or the queen to move from the hive body below to the frame above.

This frame came from my medium brood super above my hive body.

Linda T in Atlanta

[Understudy]

I know!
I know!
They are honeybees!
Do I get a gold star?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[tillie]

Actually, Brendhan, after reading about your adventure with the boat and the bees, I think you deserve a bunch of gold stars - I'd never be so brave and bold.

LT

[Understudy]

Yeah, going into a boat full of bees, was fun. Not nearly as much fun as lying in a field and playing dead for the buzzards like some others mentioned in another post.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Brian D. Bray]

Wierd things we did as kids.  Try catching a live raccoon with your bare hands.  We used hound dogs to keep it distracted but it's still the best way to get bit I can think of--it's a wonder my brother and I didn't get rabies.