Hi, Sounds like an interesting project. As far as I know, most Bombus queens [the species in this region anyway] make their nest selections in the spring after emerging from their overwintering burrows in which they remained in diapause (sp?) after mating in the fall. I've found several areas where many tens or up to a couple of hundred queens were emerging from a patch of ground only 3 to 4 meters in diameter. I think it would also be intresting to find out how/why these locations are selected in the fall after the queens have been mated. I have some sources which I could forward if you are interested. Unfortunately they are at home but it would be no trouble to dig them up. I will post them along within the next few days. Cheers Brooke M. Oland Plant Industry Branch, Harlow Institute, N.S.D.A.M.,Truro,N.S.