Hi Randy
These frames with the random drones in worker cells, were full strength colonies. POLACZEK states:

> the cannibalising of diploid drone offspring by workers seems to be dependent upon season and colony size. At the end of the season diploid drones were reared up to the adult stage in the tested nuclei. This is different to normal sized colonies, where diploid drones are never reared until hatching. 

My hunch is that we are looking at inviable sperm being used by the queen to fertilize eggs intended to be workers. Oddly, one colony that had these had a brand new queen raised "in house." Another one was a big healthy colony raised from package bees, right next to another package from the same lot which looked perfectly normal. So, damage due to queen shipping temperature seems to be ruled out. Also, environment seems not to be a factor. 

PLB

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