Deknow wrote: Aside from the fact that AI queens are generally only used for grafting from (and ditto with the frozen sperm), I don't see anything here that is misinformation. * The conclusions are wrong. Most beekeepers do use purchased queens. * I know some big ones that raise their own queens These queens are often shipped across the country arriving stressed and weak. * Large numbers are shipped as queen cells, in nucs. They are installed as cells and mated locally. Locally bred queens will (over some number of generations) adapt to local conditions. *see above ...this is in stark contrast to the "factory" queens that are proven to have a high supercedure/failure rate. * A recent study, (Keith Delaplane?) Showed that the queens are OK....it must be the environment they live in. So, what's the beef? * It continues misinformation Manage naturally occurring regional strains of honeybee.. *This would be ideal. I remember such a time where this could happen. Sadly. Most of the hives in the country are putting on a lot of miles. Dave H says 12,000 a year. Just where would you choose to call "local?" Many of us struggle to keep bees without treatments. Some do it. That's a far cry from doing so as a commercial pollinator. They need to keep their bees alive; if they didn't you would have eaten your last apple a long time ago. I take issue with those who sit around the table, head in hands, playing, "Ain't it awful." (See the book, "Games People Play). It moves nothing forward. Dick *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Access BEE-L directly at: http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L