I don't believe that the most important thing about a queen, is the way she
is raised. I have proof here at Hybri-Bees that Genetics plays an important
role. Having said that I will elaborate on the discussion at hand. I do
belive that the way a queen is raised contributes to what she is able to do
for the following reasons:
 
Basic animal and insect Breeding is as follows Genenotype and the enviroment
in which the individule is raised, is equal to the individule. Or to make it
simple Genotype + Enviroment = the Individual. Having stated this know
biology fact, it is clear that you can not have a really good queen without
both. The fact of the mater is that with bees you have castes of females. The
problem this makes for evaluation of the bees is the enviroment the indvidule
is raised in determines its caste. So long as the enviroment the queen is
raised in enables her to develop to 100% of the queen caste, then what the
she becomes after that is due to her Genotype.
 
The  way a queen is raised has a lot to due with what she is in relation to
the queen caste. It influences things such as the number of ovaries,
morphology and if she is a true queen or an intercaste. The study of these
factors is very well described in a book the name of which is QUEEN REARING
Biological Basis and Technical Instruction. the book was Edited by Dr. F.
Ruttner  Printed in 1983. This book I belive will clear up many of the
questions that you have and will also provide answers to questions already
asked in regards to the rearing of queens. It also reveals strong support for
the work done by Farrar. However If you read all of Dr. Ruttners books you
will also see that he belives in genotype as well. The book Breeding
Techniques and Selection for Breeding of  the Honeybee written by Dr. Ruttner
and published  by the BIBBA  in 1988 proves this and will also confirm that
you need both to have a great queen.
 
 
One other note the work in question was in fact done by Farrar. The other
important place to look for this information is within the USDA. They have
most of the obscure information that has been published in tech. bulletins
around. A real good source for this information is WIC-WAS Press
 
If I can be of  any help with this issue please feel free to e-Mail direct. I
am all to glad to help. It is refreshing to see that there are people that
are concerned about their queens.
 
Dean M. Breaux
Executive Vice President
Hybri-Bees
Breeding Better Bees