Hi Michael/All
 
Michael, you mentioned that using droneDNA for identification is
better as their is no father to mess up the results.
 
There are some problems here as well.
 
Bees allow drones to drift, so there is a high level of drone
exchange between even distantly located hives - so the drones in your
hive may/(definitely are not) all from your hive. Hence one must use
brood.
 
Here there is also a problem. It has recently been shown that workers
will often sneak in quite a few of the actual drone eggs (even in a
queenright colony). Hence doing DNA work on drone brood you will get
funny results again, as one may just be identifying social parasite
workers.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
Eastern Cape Prov.
South Africa
 
Time = Honey
 
After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P
the I. may not stand for important.
(rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)