If you listen to those who are working on the problem, like Dave Tarpy, you find that there is no apparent problem post mating, there is simply a problem that crops up weeks later, where sperm is no longer viable.  This symptom, described well before any specific mechanism was suspected, echoes exactly what the study at hand found.

For what its worth,  there is quite a bit of good research out there in declining sperm quality being the root of the problem,  not as much as the queens.  Sterile drones,  and sperm Die off during shipping being huge players.

Charles

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html