Hi all,

I'm a grad student in zoology, and I'm studying how honeybee colonies 
regulate brood production in response to various environmental factors.  I 
was wondering if any of you might have some stories for me to help me guide 
some of my thoughts for my projects.

In particular, I'd like to know if any of you have witnessed times when the 
queen has laid eggs (drone or worker eggs) but the colony failed to rear 
some or all of these eggs to the adult stage.  Under what conditions did 
this happen?  Was it during a time when there was a nectar dearth?  When 
colonies had precious little resources?  Right after a swarming event?  Why 
do you think that this happened?

Please send your replies to me -- my email address is [log in to unmask]

Thanks!!  :)  I'm loving working with honeybees and am just starting to 
develop more of an intuition for the ways that the colony "works."  I'm 
really looking forward to hearing from all of you hobbiest/experienced 
beekeepers!!

Sincerely,
Katie Wharton

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