Mike posted

> I have heard comments about II queens not being as long lived as free 
> flight mated queens in the hives, and other comments dismissing this 
> allegation.

Sue Cobey gave a good paper at Apimondia 2007 on this subject.  Basically 
what Sue said was that there was no real difference.  She quoted many 
studies on this subject.  The cost of the II queen compared to a naturally 
mated queen is much higher but it depends what price you put on you ability 
to keep bees.  Sue Cobey is certainly a very good teacher of II.   On her 
DVD on II Sue talks about the papers on this subject.  I am sure that if you 
were to buy a DVD you would get the information you are looking for plus a 
preview of what you will need to do for II.

Good luck Mike.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA 

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