Thanks again for your replies.  I note the following abstract re. relevant research dating to ca. 1957. I'll make a trip to the university library to retrieve the full article.

"Genetically-marked virgin queen honey bees were located at various distances up to 14.0 miles from an apiary stocked with genetically-marked drones in an area containing only these experimental bees. Some matings occurred across distances up to 10.1 miles.  With increasing distances from the drone source a decreasing percentage of queens mated successfully. Queens located at the drone source, 3.8 and 6.1 miles distant, began laying at approximately the same time. Those located 8.0 miles distant began laying later and those at 10.1 miles later still."  D.F. Peer. 1957. "Further studies on the mating range of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L." The Canadian Entomologist. 89(3): 108-110.

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