In a message dated 27/08/06 19:42:09 Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: <<The Russians were very infested, with one having nearly 100% of the drone pupae infested.>> Does anyone know how successful a queen is likely to be after mating with such drones? I'm trying to understand why I've had problems with queen mating this year; it's certainly not the weather, and I don't use persistent chemicals. So how does varroa affect the fertility of drones? Regards, Robert Brenchley -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---