page_title: Russian honey bee
section_title: Brood rearing and swarming
hierarchical_section_title: Russian honey bee / Breeding program / Brood rearing and swarming
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Bienenwaben der westlichen Honigbiene mit Eiern und Brut. Die seitlichen Wände der Zellen sind bis zum Boden der Zellen entfernt. Die Eier stehen schräg aufrecht auf dem Boden der Zellen. Die Larven oder Maden (hier Drohnen etwa 3-4 Tage nach dem Schlüpfen aus dem Ei) schwimmen in einem milchig-weißen Futtersaft. English: Honeycomb of honey bees with eggs and larvae. The walls of the cells have been removed. The larvae (drones) are about 3 or 4 days old. Français: Rayon de cire d'abeilles domestiques portant des œufs et des larves. Les parois des cellules ont été enlevées. Les larves (des faux-bourdons) sont âgées de 3 à 4 jours. Português: Favo de abelhas com ovos e larvas. As paredes das celas foram removidas. As larvas (zangões) têm entre três e quatro dias de idade. 中文: 蜜蜂的蜂巢，可见虫卵和幼虫。蜂巢的外壳已经去除，幼虫大约3-4天。
context_page_description: The Russian honeybee refers to honey bees that originate in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia. This strain of bee was imported into the United States in 1997 by the USDA's Honeybee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in response to severe declines in bee populations caused by infestations of parasitic mites, and has been used in breeding programs to improve existing stocks. Many Russian queens openly mate with drones from various stock, creating colonies that are genetically hybrid. Some of these 'uncontrolled' hybrids may exhibit "increased aggressiveness, reduced honey production and a decrease in their ability to withstand mites and detrimental expressions of other traits as well."
context_section_description: When first introduced to a colony, a Russian queen may take as long as 16 days to begin laying eggs. In addition to this delay as compared to other bee stocks, Russian queens can be difficult to requeen and take longer for their acceptance into a new hive, especially if they are being introduced into a hive of another stock. Once successfully introduced, Russian honeybees are better able to manage their population and increase their over-wintering ability than other honeybee types due to their breeding schedule. During pollen dearths, Russian honeybees decrease their brood production to ensure adequate food stocks for the hive.
  The Russian honeybees' quick response to environmental cues allows for better management of brood rearing, but can also create swarming issues. This is due to a rapid buildup of brood stock, which can lead to swarming if not managed properly. It is also a common trait for the Russian honeybee to create supersedure cells, but their presence does not necessarily indicate an impending swarm.
caption: comb with honeybee brood
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