>>...it seemed viability was higher in the spring, and then would get 
a bit worse in the summer, and then up tick again in the fall.

I see the same in my colonies.  I used to think this was night 
temperature related - cooler nights in the spring and fall cause the 
bees to cluster tightly restricting the queen to lay a tighter 
pattern?

I've also had queens that did great in nucs with ample laying in 
tight formation w/ great brood viability but, when I'd transfer them 
into 2-deep hives, some of the queens would not go to lay up 10 
frames of brood in the summer.  These queens got culled.

Waldemar
Long Island, NY

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