Author Topic: Drones, Drones everywhere (Read 6359 times)

Mikey N.C. · « **on:** July 29, 2016, 05:52:40 pm »

Just got home at 5:00 this afternoon, walk out to look see, bees bearding and fanning pretty good, looks like alot orientation flight , walked up to hives and noticed alot of drones ( golden and black abs.) Going in an out both hives . 1 hive reduced to 3/8" with #8 wire, the other with robber screen, was wondering if this is a cause for concern . they are moving so fast I'll try and get pics.

Lburou · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2016, 06:19:19 pm »

Interesting observation Mikey. Do you have a virgin queen about to fly for mating?

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2016, 06:33:27 pm »

Not sure Lee, found this out front of strong hive I pulled it out to get pic. I'm wondering if these drones are being kicked out and are hive hopping (bar hopping) to get food ?

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2016, 07:11:31 pm »

Obviously there's no drones in pic that I can see, but eyeballing earlier I could see them. Going in tomorrow , can there be a virgin queen this late as far as superseding queen , waiting on next flow which I'm learning in not much in my area, that's why I'm worried about back filling brood chamber.

Jen · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2016, 08:47:52 pm »

Hmm, is just me, or I can't tell what the object is in the first pic.

Hey Mikey, when was the last time you checked the frames in this hive? curious if it was longer that a month say, it could be laying workers making only drones?

apisbees · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2016, 10:19:06 pm »

Or the bees turfing the drones. It is not just the cold weather of winter that will get the bees into removing the drone population it can also be dearths and the bees will expel rather than feed the free loaders.

Lburou · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2016, 10:04:20 am »

Quote from: apisbees on July 29, 2016, 10:19:06 pm

Or the bees turfing the drones. It is not just the cold weather of winter that will get the bees into removing the drone population it can also be dearths and the bees will expel rather than feed the free loaders.

A drone never quite knows why he is in trouble, does he.

Jen · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2016, 11:42:23 am »

Sad isn't it Lee? Drones just want a couch, a remote, a beer and some pretzels.. and they get kicked out

lazy shooter · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2016, 12:13:26 pm »

A few decades back an old guy in our church lost his wife. She wasn't cold in the grave before he was trying to date the older, wealthier ladies in our church. He was in bad health and I suspected he was not well of financially. I told my wife I thought he was looking for "a nurse and a purse." I think that is analogous of what a drone is seeking.

lazy

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2016, 12:25:06 pm »

"a nurse and a purse."

WantToBeeLady · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2016, 01:14:15 pm »

I like that.."Nurse and a purse". My mother is always talking about older widow friends looking for a mate with health insurance and a big bank account. I guess your priorities change as time goes on. Too funny.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2016, 01:28:35 pm »

Well.... I don't think I want to be a nurse and a purse. I've been taking care of people all my life. No regrets. But I sure don't want to end up with a cranky ole fart. But it would be nice to have a weekend companion per say

neillsayers · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2016, 03:15:31 pm »

Quote from: Jen on July 30, 2016, 11:42:23 am

Sad isn't it Lee? Drones just want a couch, a remote, a beer and some pretzels.. and they get kicked out

Hey, I resemble that remark!

lazy shooter · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2016, 07:35:41 pm »

I too, didn't see any drones in the pictures. Our area had a recent four to five year drought and the bees at our ranch did not have many drones. The hives we had in town had a much higher percentage of drones. I suspect, but don't know, that the ranch bees in a severe drought and always in a dearth, did not keep many drones. The city bees, being in a richer environment could keep more freeloaders.

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2016, 06:53:48 am »

Was busy yesterday, @Jen don't think its LW the drones are big, I'll be able to go in hive today, I'll get some pics.

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2016, 07:18:58 pm »

Had time today, you can see the drones

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2016, 07:22:47 pm »

This is 2nd ,

tecumseh · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2016, 08:35:35 pm »

drones are known to wander from hive to hive without the guard bees preventing them from entering a totally foreign hive. one student at the bee lab does studies with drones and he marks them with various colors of paint and in a long line of hive you can open any and find a rainbow of drones in any or all of the hives.

at the wrong time of year excessive drones in any one hive often can mean the queen is having problems. <ie you should expect lots of drones in the spring and early summer but after that not so many... by winter none at all (which is my above reference to 'wrong time of year'.

neillsayers · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2016, 11:23:09 pm »

That capped brood looks near perfect to me.?

Jen · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2016, 11:29:51 pm »

Agreed Neil! Even my hubby just wandered by while I was searching for drones in these pics, and he even exclaimed what a beautiful pattern this queen is laying.

Mikey, I think maybe the mods of this forum can zoom these pics and search for drones better than I. But frankly, I see nothing wrong with the bees in these pics, and I don't even see ANY drones. They all look like healthy workers to me.

But let's see what the others say