It makes no difference whether you use Artificial or Natural
insemination. If the sperm comes from the same drone, the DNA remains
the same. My point is that while the queen is a fine queen and her
offspring may be outstanding, there a is more to selection than simply
surviving and producing honey. It is the manner by which these occur
which is the deciding factor.
        Let's draw a different example so that we step away from any
sensitive
topics. I have a fine home and I am sure the distinguished beekeeper
from Ontario also has a fine home. The characteristics these homes would
be designed for might be: Keeps the family cool in the summer and warm
in the winter. It is safe, dry secure and comfortable, pleasing to the
eye. That said and agreed both houses function perfectly in most
respects, they go about it in different ways. His house is fine and
functional, placed in coastal Virginia would be difficult, his basement
would flood and need to be filled in, it would probably be hot in the
summer as the A/C unit would be inadequate and he would need city water
vice a well (assuming he had one). My house from coastal Virginia,
placed on his site,  would
be freezing in the winter, have problems with ice dams on the roof and
could not exist on its slab foundation due to the earth heaving as it
freezes and thaws.
        Two fine houses, designed for the situations that arise in the
local
area, yet not quite right for transport somewhere else. They work as
shelter, simply would need a few touches here and there we're in
business. Of course, the differences will not be as dramatic with queens
but this example illustrates the point. It'll survive and do just fine
but perhaps one designed by a local architect will do better.

Thom Bradley
Chesapeake, VA

Tom Elliott wrote:
>
> In other words if you continue to buy your queen mothers from the North
> each year, you are okay.  If you begin to use daughter queens for
> raising queens you will allow suvival of queens which would never make
> it in the north.  Of course if you are doing AI forever it makes no
> difference (assuming you use proper drones).