"In some parts of the UK we are seeing very high virgin queen failure and premature queen failure,  after a couple of weeks laying.

Anyone done any drone viability testing, what's within the scope of  a home laboratory ?"
 
DARG, the Devon Apicultural Research Group, is undertaking some research into premature queen failure with the assistance of some funding from Vita who gave us a prize!  Look at the DARG web site for details and photographs.  We have been concentrating mainly on the queens whose spermathecae  appear to be abnormal, possibly due to viruses (DWV)  but it would make sense also to look at drones, especially as it might be the drones that sexually transmit the virus to the queens.

Chris

          


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