Drone Eviction

[neillsayers]

Noticed mine were giving the guys the heave-ho a couple days ago.

WM, I suspect it has a lot to do with day length.

[Jen]

This is my science Wman. It's what I observe each inspection. Went thru 3 hives this afternoon. Two of the three hives have no brood left, simply bringing in the nectar and capping. No drones in sight. Now I know they are working on the last of the winter bees to be hatched and storing food. I'm a visual learner 

[Lburou]

Last  week I saw some capped drone brood.  Haven't noticed much drone activity here. 

[Nugget Shooter]

Same here and it is business as usual and still like what many of you see temp wise for summer....

[riverbee]

the science behind drone eviction...........
really is about 'survival' and reproduction.......

drone eviction/or lack of drone rearing can happen anytime of the year. when there is a lack of nectar and especially pollen, drones will not be prolifically raised or tolerated.

in the fall when we all see the drones either being carried out, not allowed back in.........is a sign of bees preparing for winter months.  drones are raised and present for one reason........mating of a queen.  they are fed and consume valuable resources bees need for overwintering come fall.  there is no mating of queens, so are not needed, and add nothing to a colonies ability to survive for overwintering. out the door they go..........

not the greatest scientific explanation........but sorta the truth..........

[neillsayers]

I was actually surprised to see there was any drones. They tossed them out midsummer during a bad dearth we had going on. Must have raised some more in the meantime.

[Bakersdozen]

Last Monday, I was checking on my niece's hive and witnessed the eviction of the drones.  The week prior, we found drone larvae.  This week they were giving the boys the boot.  I was able to see what goes on inside the hive during this process.  It's hard to put into words, but just like when a colony is  working on swarming, you can tell they were up to something. The mood was excited but definitely not focused on me.  (Yes, I had the smoker going, iddee!)  I think by the time the drones have reached the front door, they have been ganged up on, beat up, chewed on, and exhausted.  There were several workers per drone focusing on herding them out.  It was fascinating to watch from inside the hive instead of watching the front door.
Now if they were only that effective on small hive beetle.   
Lastly, the eviction of the drones seems to vary from colony to colony.  There doesn't seem to be a special sign of the moon, calendar date, or temperature to watch for.  Honey bee democracy in action I would say.

[Jen]

"I think by the time the drones have reached the front door, they have been ganged up on, beat up, chewed on, and exhausted.  There were several workers per drone focusing on herding them out"

This Millennial Generation! Tired of their excuses! In my humble opinion, this is what parents need to do to keep their adult kids from moving back home multiple times!! The bees know, they always now what needs to be done.

[Wandering Man]

Last  week I saw some capped drone brood.  Haven't noticed much drone activity here. 

Hmmm ... Must be some of Jen's Millennial Bees, Lee.

[Lburou]

I like to see a few drones in a hive, just in case.  My largest hives tend to have one or two drones overwinter.  Maybe they are millennial drones at that. 

[Jen]

"I like to see a few drones in a hive, just in case.  My largest hives tend to have one or two drones overwinter.  Maybe they are millennial drones at that."

I sure don't mind a few drones overwintering, they are nice big walking heaters and help keep the house warm. If they are millennial drones, they had better be doing something around the house! And they had better find work within 2 weeks, or they get the millennial boot... back out the door! Don't get me started.........................