> Quite frankly, the easiest way to get good queens from a walk away
> spilt is to ensure you don't introduce larvae to the split.
> Give the split nothing but eggs if possible.

> Not sure why we have to make things so difficult and complicated.

Exactly, and, personally, I always get spooked when I hear sequences of
facts and assumptions that have not been well-proven threaded together to
reach conclusions that remain untested, but somehow become quickly regarded
as truth, rather than untested hypothesis.

This one area of bee behaviour is very poorly researched and understood.
Although some good observations have been made, particularly in along the
trodden paths of queen rearing, and there are a few islands of fact on which
we can rely, there remains a huge gulf of ignorance in these matters.  Some
of the comments in this discussion have been most interesting, particularly
those relating to Russians and their habits.  I think there is good
potential here for some grad work (hint, hint), but I am not sure this will
ever be an easy area to nail down, since there are so many variables that
are hard to control.

Maybe that is why it remains largely uncharted.

allen

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::