Authentic carniolan Bee Queens (apis m. carnica) from Slovenia

[gavin]

I do not support hybrides neither. But I am afraid that nothing can be done against importing queens. No one can control beekeepers. So if there is import it is better to be controlled and legal. This way at least you know what you'll get...

That is a pretty silly statement given that in your country there *are* laws to prevent importing queens of non-carniolan races and beekeepers *are* controlled.

[The Drone Ranger]

Here's an interesting link about breeding Slovenian Carniolans

http://www.kranjska-cebela.si/En/kranjska_cebela.php

I think it illustrates how committed they are, and how far the UK would have to change before something similar could be done.

This is what makes the breed so attractive to commercial operations

Oil seed rape subsidy is a problem, in that it is a honey producing crop which encourages bee movements in the main mating season (unlike heather)

If it was a pollination contract operation then the type of bee would be likely be local hybrid other than poly tunnel soft fruit which utilises bumble bees (imported)

[The Drone Ranger]

http://www.honeyua.com/korea/index.p...mid=31&lang=en

This is the Ukraine
Similar in some aspects that the breeding program is co-ordinated

On the whole it might be better for funding to be allocated in that direction than CCD bee brains etc