Kerry, you must check your e-mail every day.
Glad to see I am not the only one.
 
 
On Thu, 2 Sep 1993, Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299 wrote:
 
> I don't know of any study that compared the 2 specific conditions you mention,
> but Dr. Tibor Szabo, Agric. Cda. Research Stn Beaverlodge Alberta (now at Guelph
> Univ. Ontario) did 2 years of tests to determine the maximum distance that
> queens (from small, droneless nucs) would fly to connect with drones. The nucs
> were distributed in a forest with no honey bees, at varying distances from
> normal apiaries.
>
> Perhaps someone can quote the reference to the published article, or other
> details, but my recollection is that queens within 10 km were usually well
> inseminated, then there was a zone of less complete mating, to a further 10 km.
> One queen was well mated at about 20 km.
>
> Queen breeders have observed that nucs with virgin queens will attract drones
> from nearby colonies.
>
> Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
> B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
> 1201 103 Ave
> Dawson Creek B.C.
>         V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
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