>Basil Furgala did some work on how long the original queen was in a hive.
..I do not have access to the data but someone else may.  It would be
interesting as this was before varroa and tracheal mites.

Here you go Trevor:

Queens 1982

Queens from better stocks exhibited over 80% survival for 16 months (two
full seasons).
Queens...had expected acceptance and survival for 30 days of 90-100%.
Winter survival in Minnesota of six tested stocks was 100% (with standard
chemotherapeutic treatments).

Sudgen MA, Furgala B (1982) Evaluation of six commercial honey bee  (Apis
mellifera L) stocks used in Minnesota. Part 1: Wintering ability and queen
longevity. Am Bee J 122: 105-109 .

--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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