>
> >I'm wondering what the
> chances of worker lain drones ever passing on their genes are.


Kirsten Ebberstein, in her excellent thesis on bee genetics, discusses the
consequences of worker-laid drone eggs in normal colonies.  In short, the
more "W-drones," the shorter the effective generational interval, and the
smaller the genetic population size--both negative consequences.

So yes, some bees will try to "cheat," but the mechanisms for policing eggs
that Peter has described are attempts for the colony to stop such cheating,
for the overall good.

Randy Oliver

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