Drones are being kicked out

Started by Bighead, June 20, 2010, 09:05:49 PM

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Bighead

June 20, 2010, 09:05:49 PM
I was checking out the bees today and saw workers kicking out drones. I thought that didn't happen until fall or winter. This colony is getting back on it's feet from swarming and making a new queen.

Would this be the order of things with a new administration?

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
-- Thomas Paine

FRAMEshift

#1
June 21, 2010, 11:14:19 AM
I would also be interested in the answer to this question.
"You never can tell with bees."  --  Winnie-the-Pooh

greenbtree

#2
June 23, 2010, 02:25:52 PM
So no one has a clue?

JC
"Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken, or life about to end.  No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend, like the Mary Ellen Carter rise again!"

Bighead

#3
June 23, 2010, 05:12:31 PM
I guess not. I thought maybe that the flow was slowing down and they would do this, but I have another hive and they are not doing this.
"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
-- Thomas Paine

riverrat

#4
June 23, 2010, 10:59:55 PM
A clear cut case of domestic violence. You should have called the proper authorities
never take the top off a hive on a day that you wouldn't want the roof taken off your house

jhs494

#5
June 23, 2010, 11:27:40 PM
Two of our hives are given them the boot as well. Two workers draggin them out and throwing them off the porch.

One hive is a swarm capture and one came from a package.

Seems a bit early for this.
Joe S.

hardwood

#6
June 23, 2010, 11:34:20 PM
There are drones of varying extent all year. The hive mentality chooses how many to keep around and are constantly giving some the boot. They may be older drones, the flow might have slowed, you could have a virgin queen and drones are drifting in...any number of reasons.

Scott
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Bee Happy

#7
June 23, 2010, 11:35:56 PM
I would have to wonder if it's because the colonies mentioned are trying to get established. Since drones are basically freeloaders maybe they're kicking them out because they're not set up enough to entertain guests.
be happy and make others happy.

weBEE Jammin

#8
June 24, 2010, 12:51:45 PM
I also have a few dozen drones crawling in front of an exploding swarm I caught this year, and already filling 4 supers! I thought I had lost the queen and had laying workers, but I watched as bees were still bringing in plenty of pollen. I believe nector is slowing down, so the workers (females) are sending the couch potatoe drones to the dog house- outside.

Jack

#9
June 25, 2010, 09:35:03 AM
Several drones crawling about the bee yard could just mean you better expect a swarm tomorrow or in the very near future.

luvin honey

#10
June 25, 2010, 11:30:36 AM
Are they flying around or actually getting forced out, trying to get back in, then forced out again? Last year, a lot of drones were in an out of their own accord right before the hive swarmed.

If they are getting forced out, I'm too new to know. I would wonder, though, if some hives sometimes end up with more drones than absolutely necessary, or if unexpected weather/foraging issues would lead them to pare down the reproductive ranks to free up some food for the brood...
The pedigree of honey
Does not concern the bee;
A clover, any time, to him
Is aristocracy.
---Emily Dickinson

Bighead

#11
June 25, 2010, 04:44:31 PM
They are being forced out.
"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
-- Thomas Paine

handymandave

#12
June 25, 2010, 08:49:28 PM
When I have seen this behavior, and looked closely at the ejected brothers, I found they had mites. My bees, at times, seem to throw unhatched drones out the front door, and most of those I've examined had mites clinging to them.
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