Russian bees

jldoll · February 16, 2011, 06:55:50 PM

Today is the first day above 50 degree's This year. I have been worried about my two russian hives and how they would make it through the winter. There was about two months that was so cold, I didn't think the bees could move the cluster to a new supply of honey.

Today Feb 16 2011 and I am very pleased as you can see in the picture there is snow in the background and the bees are out.
Both of my russian hives look very strong. I can't remember any of my Italian hives doing this well.

Jerry Sorry I can't get the pic to work

Central Indiana--------------

AllenF · February 16, 2011, 09:28:29 PM

Where are you located at?

Humanbeeing · February 17, 2011, 06:06:33 AM

That's good to hear. I have 6 packages of Tabor's Russian Yugos ordered. I'm putting them up in the mountains this summer, but I will overwinter them down here in Southern Idaho. I also would like to know your location to see if you are colder or warmer than we are here.

edward · February 17, 2011, 04:49:39 PM

Quote from: jldoll on February 16, 2011, 06:55:50 PM
Sorry I can't get the pic to work

try this ;)

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,6691.0.html

mvh edward :-P

Dange · February 17, 2011, 10:19:53 PM

Can you tell me where you bought the bees from? I am interested in the russians. Thanks

backyard warrior · February 21, 2011, 10:54:46 PM

Humanbeeing i have a few queens coming from Tabers please keep me posted on how your hives are doing as so will I chris

MTWIBadger · February 21, 2011, 11:24:55 PM

Humanbeeing,
Where in the mountains of Idaho are you going to put your Russian bees? I assume you are going after knapweed honey.

Humanbeeing · February 22, 2011, 03:25:48 AM

Backyard Warrior,
I will.

I am going to put my Russians up in the Wood River Valley, near Ketchum, Idaho, a little south of the Sun Valley Lodge. I have five different places secured, for a couple hives each. I am also putting 4 VSH hives up there with them. There are some really nice wild bees up there also, that we have been scoping out since summer before last. I will take my virgin queens, from my Minnesota Hygenic stock, to breed with them.
The place is covered with wild flowers of all kinds, for 3 months. There is Goldenrod up into October. Big gardens full of blooming trees and flowers. A few alfalfa fields here and there. The main thing is, ZERO PESTICIDES!

I have heard a lot of negative feedback on open breeding Russians. I have to learn everything the hard way! Breeding with the Russians, VSH, and the wild bees up there, I know I'll get some good bees to work with, and plenty of DNA diversity to boot.

Humanbeeing · February 22, 2011, 03:47:27 AM

MTWIBadger,
I was up in Salmon, Idaho last summer, right at the base of the Bitterroots. I did a little hiking and found Star Thistle growing all over. There were hundreds of bees all over it. I tried to secure a spot to put some breeding nucs out, but didn't have time to hook up. I was amazed at the amout of bees in that area. I know you guys keep a lot of bees on the other side of the pass. We saw hundreds of hives up near LOLO.
I have seen lots of different types of Thistles. Are they all good honey plants? There are so many different types, I don't know what most of them are. The guy that ran the RV park was mad because there were so many bees on it, people were afraid to cross this little bridge over the river! He called it Hog Thistle. Said he was going to rip it out.
I have a bunch of seed for it. My wife wanted it because it attracts butterflies, and because they told her it is endangered. She bought it. :? I thought it was an invasive weed!

jldoll · February 22, 2011, 06:39:23 AM

I got my russians from Kelly bee's

greenbtree · February 22, 2011, 10:57:29 AM

Some thistles ARE invasive weeds - Canadian, Bull, Yellow, and Purple for example and many not native. Hopefully your wife bought Centaurea americana - American Star Thistle or also called Basketflower. A reason to identify your plants if you are gathering seed yourself as I do, not to just see what the bees like. (I'm just throwing that out there, not implying that anyone on THIS forum is running around willy-nilly spreading any old thing. :-D)

JC

Humanbeeing · February 22, 2011, 01:42:34 PM

There's 4. Asclepias incarnata, A. syriaca, A. speciosaand A. tuberosa
Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Showey Milkweed, Butterfly Plant Milkweed

backyard warrior · February 22, 2011, 09:13:05 PM

Humanbeeing : After you breed the tabers and vsh queens and you like what you see i might be interested in obtaining a few queens if you are going to sell some of them. I am assuming you select for gentleness, brood makers, hygenics and over wintering abilities. I am experimenting with different queens from different breeders and seeing how they all pan out in different bee yards other than my own. Chris

MTWIBadger · February 22, 2011, 09:40:15 PM

Humanbeeing,

The Bitterroot Valley has several large commercial bee operations up and down the valley including west of Lolo. I don't know much about thistles but the main plant the bees are collecting from in the valley is knapweed (another noxious weed) which flourishes in dry areas. Knapweed honey is very good. The valley floor is irrigated so alfalfa and clover are also common sources of nectar. I found 3 bee trees last summer so I think our feral bee population is on the rebound. I do a lot of hiking in Idaho also so hope you enjoyed your time in Salmon.

Countryboy · February 22, 2011, 09:50:14 PM

Big gardens full of blooming trees and flowers. A few alfalfa fields here and there. The main thing is, ZERO PESTICIDES!

Quite often, gardens and flowerbeds have more pesticides than crop fields.

Alfalfa is commonly sprayed to control alfalfa weevil. Maybe the alfalfa weevil isn't a problem out there.

Humanbeeing · February 23, 2011, 02:43:52 AM

Quote from: Countryboy on February 22, 2011, 09:50:14 PM
Big gardens full of blooming trees and flowers. A few alfalfa fields here and there. The main thing is, ZERO PESTICIDES!

Quite often, gardens and flowerbeds have more pesticides than crop fields.

Alfalfa is commonly sprayed to control alfalfa weevil. Maybe the alfalfa weevil isn't a problem out there.

This isn't your average place Countryboy. Ernest Hemingway is buried in the graveyard, along with some other folks you would know. Arnold Schwarzenegger lives on the hill, and Demi Moore and Bruce Willis now live across the street from each other. Oprah and her chums have meetings at the Sun Valley Lodge. The entire community is dead set against pesticides of any kind. Any gardeners in the area, are organic. The only thing that might be sprayed are the apple trees. Judging from a few apples I've tried, they are not. As far as the alfalfa, I've never seen them spraying, but they might. I'm a good ways from them anyway. Some people spray no matter what. In the south, where I reside, it is all agriculture. Piles of dead bees. Compared to that, it is the Garden Of Eden. Miles and miles of wild flowers. That's how I want to raise my queens. May not be a perfect world, but it is as close as I can get. Plus, my Russians should feel right at home there. http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/84548171

Humanbeeing · February 23, 2011, 02:59:21 AM

Quote from: jldoll on February 22, 2011, 06:39:23 AM
I got my russians from Kelly bee's

jldoll,

It looks like Central Indiana is in the 5/6 zone on the USDA Map. That's about where I am here in Idaho. Some years we're 5, some years 6. That encourages me with the Russians. Tabor said they overwinter very well. That's what I'm looking for, because we can get below freezing for weeks at a time. This winter wasn't that bad, but it can, and will be.
I'm glad your bees are good. It ain't over yet, but it's closer to the good.