>are two possible reasons for this if the bees are SMR from the lab. >1. the queen was an outcross and not inbred. >2. The bees you have got are not opening cells and removing pupa as the web site says. >Either 1 or 2 above would leave a shotgun pattern. What I am saying Mike which might not be clear in the first post is that inbreeding & pulling pupa would leave the shotgun pattern and the above is why in my opinion you are not seeing the pattern. -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---