Installing pure Russian (Primorsky) honey bee packages in a horizontal Layens hive in central Maine. 

In this video, I show the full process of installing two package colonies on April 23 – I was replacing winter losses in a northern climate (Central Maine).

These bees are a cold-hardy strain originally imported by the USDA in 1997 from Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East.  Over generations, Primorsky bees have developed many natural resistance behaviors against varroa mites—without any treatments.

Because of strong winds during installation, I used a simple cardboard funnel to protect the bees while shaking them into the hive. The setup is a 20-frame Layens hive, configured as a tight 5-frame starter section with a follower board, including drawn comb and a honey frame to support early buildup.

Key points in the video:

-Handling and separating Mann Lake “Bee Bus” package boxes

-Preparing a compact starter section in a horizontal Layens hive

-Inspecting and cleaning a wax-covered queen cage

-Safe shaking of bees into the hive under windy conditions -Frame arrangement using drawn comb and honey stores

-Adding raw sheep wool insulation for cold spring nights

-Early direct queen release ahead of freezing temperatures

-Colony progress 4 days after installation

By day four, the colonies are already drawing comb and settling in well. This is treatment-free, small-scale beekeeping focused on hardy genetics and minimal intervention—adapted for northern conditions.