> Is it possible that one relates to the other? I.e. could the A.N. be
contributing to a shortened functional life of the queens?
I don't see the correlation in my hives. I haven't introduced virgins in a couple of years - bought mated queens instead and, in some cases, let the bees supersede. I have a couple of AN virgins that are now going into their 4th year. Queens that died last winter were all new queens from a couple different breeders.
***********************************************
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