Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Eugene Willson on June 12, 2016, 08:35:18 PM

Title: Queen mating flight
Post by: Eugene Willson on June 12, 2016, 08:35:18 PM
Hi all,
I saw one of my hives with a bunch of bees ( about 200) at the entrance fanning their wings with the tail up in the air, this hive has a virgin queen in it and it is about time for her to go on a mating flight, do the bees do this when she leaves to mate?
Gene
Title: Re: Queen mating flight
Post by: Blacksheep on June 12, 2016, 09:21:36 PM
They are trying to help her find her way back to the hive!
Title: Re: Queen mating flight
Post by: GSF on June 13, 2016, 09:00:14 AM
Eugene, I was in the area of one of my hives when the virgin queen returned from her mating flight. I thought they may be swarming but when I went to it I saw droves and droves of drones entering the colony.