do drones leave the hive for purposes other than mating ? i didn't notice any drones leaving, but i did notice one entering the hive today. so i'm just curious. did he go out looking for a date only to return to the hive disappointed ?
my understanding is that drones go to certain congregation areas away from the hive often. That is where the queens go to mate. They have a name for those areas on here somewhere but I forget,
I am sure they go on poop flights. I do see them outside of the hives a lot. I am sure they are just seeing if the air is right for a "date".