Gentlepeople: Neat testimonial from Jack the B-man about is 36 years without regular requeening. As a rather new hobbyist, I am set to go either direction. To requeen or not to requeen, that is the question. I can think, in my limited experience and knowledge, that the use of known stock with known characteristics would enable the beekeeper to have some(?) control over the performance of his bees and, in order to maintain that control, requeening would be used to maintain the characteristics desired. Therefore, requeening would be desirable to maintain the "purity" of the stock. On the other hand, allowing the bees to "grow their own" and repopulating dead hives from splits including eggs or swarms, would allow ones colonies to adapt to particular local circumstances, which might enhance survival. Hmmmm.....interesting choice. What is the consensus of opinion? Mark Egloff Dayton, Ohio USA 2 hives, 3 years experience.