Do I need to worry about maintaining genetic diversity if all of my queens descend from one queen? I started with one package and one queen. I now have three queens (one in a nuc, one in a second hive.) Provided I manage to keep my bees and queens alive, can I continue in this way without ever introducing an outside queen?
I'm thinking about the fact that any future queens may mate to drones from my hives which would be keeping it all in the family, so to speak.
I realize they could also mate with outside drones (provided there are any near me) but I have no idea if my daughter queens mated with their brothers from the original hive or with drones from somewhere else.
Does this ever become a problem or do the bees know what they're doing?
I'm thinking about the fact that any future queens may mate to drones from my hives which would be keeping it all in the family, so to speak.
I realize they could also mate with outside drones (provided there are any near me) but I have no idea if my daughter queens mated with their brothers from the original hive or with drones from somewhere else.
Does this ever become a problem or do the bees know what they're doing?