Predatory bees?

[Fergmeister]

Standing by the hive I heard some very noisy bees coming in with the usual traffic.  As I saw them land I noticed they were as big or bigger than the drones.  They entered and exited the hive doorway at will.  Are they different than the hive population or are they  stealing the honey???
Chuck

[BeeMaster2]

What you are describing sounds like drones.
If they are workers, the loud noise might bee because they were coming in heavy with nectar. The more a bee weighs the louder they sound.
We're they quieter when they left?
Jim

[Fergmeister]

No they sounded about the same.  Are the boys just going out for the day or what?  I'm pretty new at this.  The guard bees didn't seem to mind them but, I saw a video where a predatory wasp got in and could produce a scent that the defenders didn't recognize as foreign and the wasp wreaked havoc on the hive.  Thanks for your help.
Chuck

[BeeMaster2]

No they sounded about the same.  Are the boys just going out for the day or what?  I'm pretty new at this.  The guard bees didn't seem to mind them but, I saw a video where a predatory wasp got in and could produce a scent that the defenders didn't recognize as foreign and the wasp wreaked havoc on the hive.  Thanks for your help.
Chuck

Chuck,
The drones only job is to mate with the queens. They go out during during the middle of the day. They go out to drone congregation areas (DCA) and wait for a queen to arrive. If they are one of the lucky ones to mate, (high in the air) as soon as they mate, they die and another male moves in to mate.
While waiting for a chance to mate, they return to a hive to eat. They can go into any hive that is producing drones. Hives only produce drones when they have an excess of food coming in or they are queenless and if there is no worker brood.
Jim

[Fergmeister]

Thanks,  My girls are very active and bringing in pollen and nectar.  I started out this year, May, with a swarm captured, nuc'd, moved to a 10 frame box which filled quick.  Since then I've added two 10 frame boxes and they're filling those.  I'm not planning on harvesting any honey this year only growing the colony to survive the KS winter.  Currently I'm leaving them alone to do their stuff.
Chuck

[BeeMaster2]

Having drones in your hive is a good indication your bees are in good shape with a good food source. I am just starting to see them coming out of the hives again in town. For the last month it looked like the bees were working hard but not much was coming in and they kicked all of the drone out. Now they are putting on weight and the drones are showing up in the hives again.
Jim