Hello Robert and All,
Robert wrote:
>     Inbreeding? If they're significantly inbred, wouldn't that produce
> diploid drones which would then be eaten by the workers, leaving a spotty
> brood pattern?

Dr. Harbo (USDA bee lab) sent  a letter talking about the problem.  I have
got several theories but would be interested in others thoughts. You can
rule out  the above theory in my opinion  as  these queens  are not laying
drone brood in the oval circles but in the proper place and the  drones are
being raised.

Instead of using the word spotty I should say many frames  with eggs, larva
and sealed brood all on the same frame.  We have  had the  wettest spring
since the flood year of 1993 so hard to draw conclusions as  wet  and cool
weather can produce  those types of patterns.

I might do a post later  on the problems wet weather makes for beekeepers
and  bees.  Many beekeepers are way behind on their bee work. Swarming WILL
be the talk at bee meetings next month exactly like it was in late spring
1993 in Missouri.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison