Russians, opinions

[gardo]

Have many of you have used the Russians? My beekeeper friend and I switched last year. He seems to think there is excessive swarming. Do they actually resist the varroa mite as well as they are supposed to? If they do have a natural resistance, would it not be bad for their strain to use pesticides? Tell me any experience you have had.
Thank you.
Gary McCluskey
North Alabama USA

[Michael Bush]

>Have many of you have used the Russians?

I have.

>My beekeeper friend and I switched last year. He seems to think there is excessive swarming.

Maybe a little more.

>Do they actually resist the varroa mite as well as they are supposed to?

I didn't notice much difference.

>If they do have a natural resistance, would it not be bad for their strain to use pesticides?

I think it's bad to use pesticides for any bees.

>Tell me any experience you have had.

The ones I had were a bit more defensive, not in the stinging way, but headbutting and following further.

[gardo]

how do you deal with mites,etc.
thank you for the reply.
Gary