Bill Hesbach asked for reference material on the impact of artificially high hive temps on drone fertility. There are lots out there, here are a few: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjdnuGloOHfAhUyHzQIHeKEA0cQFjAAegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Facademic.oup.com%2Fbeheco%2Farticle-pdf%2F24%2F5%2F1192%2F709540%2Fart049.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2mNHFXCW72LBClHOU8Z-AI (focuses on the vulnerability of spermatozoa in the spermatheca of the queen to heat stress) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0147220 To be fair, this one contradicts! And reports no effect on drone fertility by exposing drone *brood* to temperatures high enough to interrupt Varroa development. Maybe brood is less sensitive?? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315785579_Impact_of_hyperthermia_on_the_drone_fertility_of_Apis_mellifera Systems intended to heat drone brood to kill developing Varroa have come and gone over the years I have been beekeeping (most were just so cumbersome they struck me as impractical). None ever mentioned what effect, if any, that would have on drone fertility. But it seems adult drones and semen are very sensitive to overheating. Hope that helps. *********************************************** 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
