Hi Trevor and all,

> If the drones came from the same hive as the virgin queen then I
would assume they would be brother and sister as they would have the
same mother.

Yes indeed that would be the case if mating took place shortly after
adult (imago) eclosure and dispersal from the parental hive. The key
thing is when does the mating flight take place, and indeed it is
when the queen and her brothers (drones) have developed, and not some
time after the queen has established a colony.
Thus, it is her BROTHER she is possibly likely to mate with (as
stated by the original post and Trevor) and not her son. (Son mating
could only occur in the colony hive, and is unlikely).
 I apologise for this seriouse error on my part and any confusion /
misleading it caused, and Thanks particularly to Trevor for pointing
it out.
Cheers
Rob
Robert Butcher,
Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Unit,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Dundee University,
Dundee, DD1 4HN,
Tayside, Scotland,
UK.
Work Phone:- 01382-344291 (Office), 01382-344756 (Lab).
Fax:- 01382-344864
e-mail:- [log in to unmask]