Karen physiologically there is a big difference between the sudden cessation 
of egg laying when a queen is caged, and the more gradual cessation in the 
winter.  I think the queen needs to lay for some period of time before 
caging to fully develop her ovarioles.  Maybe as you are suggesting it makes 
no difference at all.  I really thought somebody would have run "tests" to 
determine if there is an optimum time to cage.  Lack of responses to this 
thread make me think it is something that has never been looked at.
Dave
Dave

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