Bad tempered Russians

[GTBee]

 This is only my second year of beekeeping.  Last year I started off with a couple of hives of Italians.  I got used to them and could work them pretty easily without a whole lot of protection.
Saturday night I picked up three new nucs of Russians.  Man what a difference!  These bad girls don't like to be bothered.  I always wear a veil but had transitioned to no gloves.  That has changed for these "Communists".  Hopefully as they fill out the larger brood boxes they will calm down some.  I sure hope their resistance to mites etc are worth it.  It's too darn hot here in GA to wear a full bee suit!

[Kathyp]

i got russians last year.  part of the reason i got them was because they had a reputation for being really nice.  i had no problems with mine.  the early part of the year i worked them in shorts and t-shirts and never got stung.  unfortunately, they managed to re-queen during the year sometime.  now i have a mix, but they seem to be pretty nice so far.

maybe it's the breeder?

[Billy The Beekeeper]

Yea its quite possible that the breeder is a communist also tryin to take over the world with bee's lmao. Anyways i bought russians for the hive that died over winter they supposed to becomein april 14th. Are they as good as they say for production, resistance, etc. I hope so cause i wanna alot of honey to make money to enhance my beeyard that only has 2 hives in it lol but this is only goin on my 3rd year so i guess it aint that bad. I started off with one and got another from a swarm, which the swarm hive was my surviver lol. but im hopin to get like 2 more hives this year maybe even 3 more. :)               :mrgreen:

[Stingtarget]

My Russian hive was extremely aggressive!  Problem is that once they started bouncing off my veil I'd have hundreds all over me.  YOU'RE right....too dang hot for full suit but I had no choice.  I'd have to walk away almost 100 yards and brush the stragglers off of me.  They were good honey producers but not worth the bad attitude.

Good news is that if they don't calm down and you don't requeen they'll eventually breed out to Italian hives.  Mine did and this is the first year I can work both hives without gloves!!

Good luck!

[Kathyp]

it would be interesting to be able to keep track of where some of these bees come from.  if some breeders are shipping bees that are hot and we know that, those breeders can be avoided...especialy by new beekeepers.

i didn't have sense enough to ask where my Russians came from.  i only know that they came from CA.  i didn't order the same this year simply because of the cost.  it didn't seem to be a good idea to spend that much extra money and end up with them cross breeding anyway.  when i have a few more hives, i may try mixing Russians in every couple of years.  they are good honey producers and if they are at all resistant, they are probably worth keeping.

my experience with Russians was good and i would not discourage people from trying them.  i guess after reading your posts, i'd encourage them to find someone who'd ordered from the same place and check out their experience.

[Stingtarget]

I received mine from Louisianna.  Very hot bees!