Kerry, you must check your e-mail every day. Glad to see I am not the only one. On Thu, 2 Sep 1993, Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299 wrote: > I don't know of any study that compared the 2 specific conditions you mention, > but Dr. Tibor Szabo, Agric. Cda. Research Stn Beaverlodge Alberta (now at Guelph > Univ. Ontario) did 2 years of tests to determine the maximum distance that > queens (from small, droneless nucs) would fly to connect with drones. The nucs > were distributed in a forest with no honey bees, at varying distances from > normal apiaries. > > Perhaps someone can quote the reference to the published article, or other > details, but my recollection is that queens within 10 km were usually well > inseminated, then there was a zone of less complete mating, to a further 10 km. > One queen was well mated at about 20 km. > > Queen breeders have observed that nucs with virgin queens will attract drones > from nearby colonies. > > Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist > B.C. Ministry of Agriculture > 1201 103 Ave > Dawson Creek B.C. > V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 > INTERNET [log in to unmask]