Dear Joe Our Islands' native variety of bee mates with around 20 drones, often less in poor weather, not that it matters too much unless it gets below about 5. The variety of characters works to the bees' advantage and also to ours since we get a good mix of genes and the consequent characters, such as hygiene. What one drone cannot pass on, another might well. see http://www.bbhoney.co.uk/ To your earlier request for new queens in spring, one of my friends and working partners is producing queens for sale both from Buckfast and locally selected stock. I have loaned him one of my breeders and my central apiary to mate the locally selected bees in. We are getting closer to varroa tolerance as we select, breed and replace each year and the signs are very encouraging. I will post some pictures of tray debris showing the remains of chewed out pupae (antennae, legs, eyes and so on) from the most hygienic stock. You will appreciate I am recommending for this part of the world, selected local sources of queens rather than from another part of the world. james kilty http://www.honeymountain.co.uk -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---