I went out to watch my hive after I got home from work. They swarmed on the 7th or 8th so I have been watching them really close. About every 25 bee's one will bring in pollen the rest are nectar. Any how I was watching them when I seen a drone harassing a worker bee and then she took off and he took off after her so I watched them not hard with a big drone and it looked like they got in a fight and then they came back to the hive she went back in to the hive the drone landed on the base board and then dropped to the ground. Is this what I think it is ?
Irwin, that kind of sounds like it could have been a mating flight, but I doubt it. But, hey, one never knows. The drone congregation area is usually about 15-30 feet in the air, (or higher), and is probably not in the immediate vicinity of the apiary, but a small distance away. The queen flies to the drone congregation area, then mates with several to many, many drones, the drones die immediately after mating, they would fall in this area, not right infront of the hive as you said. How could you be sure that this bee that you saw return was the same bee that you thought was the the queen heading out on her nuptual flight? Please more clearly define what you saw, this is interesting and I would love to hear more. Tell us more. Beautiful and most wonderful day, love this life. Cindi
It happend about 20 feet from the hive and about the same off the ground and for the queen I can't say 100 percent that it was her.And for the hive I was told to wait two week's to check for the queen that will be on the 23rd I feel like a kid at Christmas time.
Irwin,
It sounds like that could be the mating flight of a virgin queen. I have never seen it that close to the hive, but keep you fingers crossed and check her in 10 to 14 days.
by the way, how close are you to Yakama WA. I have family there
I would say around 400 mile's Jason
Irwin, by cracky, by george, by gum, I bet you may well have had a mating flight going on, yep, yep, I know what you say about like a kid on Christmas morning, hee, hee, be patient, she will show you what she can do, time will tell that tale :) :) :) Have this day to hold in the palm of your hand, make it the best that you can. Cindi