Dee Lusby wrote:

>Sperm from 15 drones vs sperm from 1 drone is key here for survival, as
what is written. 

No, the important point is not the number of drones but the fact that *they
are not closely related*. This produces what they are calling "intracolonial
genetic diversity"; that is, workers within the same colony that are not as
closely related as they would be if they all had the same father -OR-
multiple fathers that were closely related (brothers).

> The observation that intracolonial genetic diversity improved productivity
in colonies is consistent with predictions made by models of division of
labor that rely on genotypic differences in response thresholds among
workers. Higher collective productivity of genetically diverse colonies may
be rooted in a broader or more sensitive response from worker populations to
changing conditions.

> Nevertheless, the extent to which genetically uniform colonies lagged
behind genetically diverse colonies in the early stages of colony
development was surprising, considering that colonies initially lacked comb
and food reserves, and presumably, stimuli reflecting these needs could not
have been greater. 

> A key advantage of intracolonial genetic diversity was revealed during
infrequent periods when food resources were plentiful. Genetically diverse
colonies gained weight at rates that far exceeded those of genetically
uniform colonies, whose sluggish foraging rates suggest that intracolonial
genetic diversity enhances the discovery and exploitation of food resources
by work forces, especially during periods when resources become suddenly and
abundantly available.


Genetic Diversity in Honey Bee Colonies Enhances Productivity and Fitness
by Heather R. Mattila, et al.
Science; 20 JULY 2007

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