I think Capt that you may have gotten the buckfast in the last year that BWeaver actually produced distinct lines of bees. As a side question I would like to know.... are the two hives created from the two packages still alive?
Yep they're still alive.
Each one has around 50,000 or more bees right now.
I've split them every year.
But I have a cloake board on one and they're very aggressive.
Most of the time they are gentle in the spring and hateful in the fall.
But since I'm rearing queens in that particular hive, I've been in it quite abit.
Them gals are fussy and will follow me to my shop around 100 yards away.
I've got to where I use the smoker on me more than I do the bees. :laugh:
Oh yes the state Apiary board advises me not to purchase bees from that area of the southwest because of the Africanized bee traits.