Some questions on Bee Breeds/Stocks

[Tyler]

Hey everyone, just a few questions I have regarding the different breeds(stocks, races, etc.) of honey bees.

1- Do you keep bees of a specific breed/stock? If so, why?
2- Is it safe to keep hives of different breeds/stocks on the same site? Or will there be particular conflict? (For example, the impression I've gotten thus far is that Italians, with their reputation for robbing, I see as being a poor neighbor for a Caucasian hive, which may already have a slower buildup or honey store to begin with)
3- In addition to the "Mainstream" breeds, I have read some in passing about Alaskan, Icelandic, Australian, and Japanese honey bees. Are these Honey Bee breeds in the traditional sense, or are they simply local names for existing bee stocks? (I don't have time to pull up all the articles currently, I'll look to post some of them up later this evening or tomorrow)

[camero7]

I have Italians, Carniolans and Pol-Line in the same yards. Don't have any problems with them.

[tbonekel]

I wish I knew the different breeds, but mine are all mutts. They came from swarms or cutouts. I have no clue what they are. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Ray]

IMO:
They are ALL mutts (at least in the USA). The USA banned importation of honeybees in 1928(I think-close anyway). There has been some importation of germplast, used to cross with existing American stock.
Sue Colbey bred the NWC (New World Carniolians) they are mixed blood
The Russians are probably the closest to original, thanks to the RHBA. The're still mutts, just Russian mutts.
Buckfast are mutts.
The Killer Bees or Africanized Honey Bee are a cross breed.
If the're yellow - the're Italian
If the're dark - the're Carnis oops I mean Russians .

[pistolpete]

What Ray said.   

Some breeders have managed to get primarily blonde bees, or mostly dark bees, but I really doubt you could really call them Italians or Carniolans.   They'll be mutts the first time you have them raise a queen anyway.

[riverbee]

tyler, this is a good topic for discussion.
for myself to answer your questions:

"1- Do you keep bees of a specific breed/stock? If so, why?"
yes i do, but the really specific soon turn into "mutts" or 'survivor bees'.  i purchase russian nucs and queens from the rhba. i keep russians or mutts of because of some of their genetic traits that are advantageous in my climate; winter hardy, winter in a smaller cluster, conservative on stores, queens stop laying in nectar/pollen dearths, and most of all very varroa and disease resistant, mostly varroa.  since keeping russkies, i rarely treat or have had to treat for varroa mites. with this said, although i may get russian queens from the rhba, (usually not until  june) i like to use queen cells during swarm season for nucs and divides, especially from the colonies that have overwintered and done well for me.  i rarely requeen, unless queens are available in summer season. they are hard to come by.

"2- Is it safe to keep hives of different breeds/stocks on the same site? Or will there be particular conflict? (For example, the impression I've gotten thus far is that Italians, with their reputation for robbing, I see as being a poor neighbor for a Caucasian hive, which may already have a slower buildup or honey store to begin with)"

IMHO genetic diversity is a good thing in any apiary.  i look at it from the point of view of are they going to last the winter....for me italians are not a good choice to overwinter, but have many other good traits.

"3- In addition to the "Mainstream" breeds, I have read some in passing about Alaskan, Icelandic, Australian, and Japanese honey bees. Are these Honey Bee breeds in the traditional sense, or are they simply local names for existing bee stocks? (I don't have time to pull up all the articles currently, I'll look to post some of them up later this evening or tomorrow)"

i can't answer this question, i am not familiar with 'alaskan', 'icelandic', 'australian' or 'japenese' honey bees.

i started a thread here tyler on stocks of honey bees (article from american bee journal), some good info, and a good answer by ray:

Stocks of Bees in the United States ABJ 2015