In a message dated 16/06/05 18:12:35 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<<I ask this because I've heard/read that colonies headed smaller  queens
sometimes outproduce other colonies.  Mating is the other side of  the coin but
this may be due to better genetics allowing potentially fewer -  since from a
smaller queen - harder working workers outshine their  peers.

Waldemar
Long Island, NY>>



I used to have a strain of Italian hybrids which  had big fat queens, and
produced nothing but swarms. I now have A.m.m., with  small slim queens, which do
far better. It seems the queen's build has little or  nothing to do with her
fertility or the usefulness of her strain.

    Regards,

    Robert Brenchley

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