russian bees combination with italian bees ? (weak hive)

[mushmushi]

Hello everybody,

On our collective rooftop beekeeping project we have a hive with Russian bees (primorsky).

It has some queen cells in it and I was wondering if I could combine a frame with a some russian queen cells and bees with a very weak hive containing 4-5 frames of Italian bees (the queen is laying lots of 2 eggs, there are few eggs laid, etc).

Do you think the Italian strain bees might have acceptance issues ?

Cheers

[Kathyp]

i think you will be fine if they need a queen.  it is not uncommon to requeen hives with different strains.  if the hive you are putting the frame in has a queen, kill her.  i would wait until the next day to introduce your queen cells if you know their age and are sure they won't hatch in that time, but i know some will do it the same day.  watch those cells.  they hatch in much shorter time than workers and you want to move them before you lose them.

[mushmushi]

Excellent, I'll try it out like that.

Thank you.

[Tommyt]

Hello everybody,

On our collective rooftop beekeeping project we have a hive with Russian bees (primorsky).

It has some queen cells in it and I was wondering if I could combine a frame with a some russian queen cells and bees with a very weak hive containing 4-5 frames of Italian bees (the queen is laying lots of 2 eggs, there are few eggs laid, etc).
Do you think the Italian strain bees might have acceptance issues ?

Cheers

mushmushi
Has this hive been weak for a long time ? Do you think you could have lost the Queen a while ago
and now have laying workers?
I'm new but thought a queen (other than young/newly mated) may lay some 2 egg cells
I don't think a proven queen goes backward and lays double eggs in a cell
I hope someone else speaks up

Tommyt