Queens finding drones..what are the odds?

Started by BearCountry, August 01, 2009, 09:16:21 PM

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BearCountry

August 01, 2009, 09:16:21 PM
I'm not a beekeeper yet, but I plan to be in the spring.  I've done so much research online and with the help of this forum that I feel like an expert, and I'm sure I will be humbled as soon as I begin.

There is one thing I have been pondering.  Will the queens raised from my colonies be able to locate drones to mate with?  I don't have any beekeepers near me that I have seen.  The land around me (for a two mile radius) is mostly farmland with a few small groups of homes here and there, and some small patches of woods 5 to 30 acres in size. 

I've got 11 open acres covered in clover and thistle that I plan to place my colonies on, but I see a honeybee working there only on rare occasion (plenty of bumblebees though).  Do you think that drones from other honeybee colonies will be present in this environment?  I dont really want to have to purchase new queens for my hives every time one goes missing or needs to be replaced...and I would really prefer forks in my bees' family tree.

This is a great forum and it has been very very helpful, despite the fact I havent even started yet.  I can't wait to start applying my new knowledge!

Pond Creek Farm

#1
August 02, 2009, 12:14:22 AM
I am in my second year and by no means a queen rearing expert.  That said, to see honey bees in your area is to prove that there are hives in the vicinity.  If this is the case, those hives are producing drones.  From what I have read, there are areas where drones will congrugate to find queens, and presumably they would gather in an area where they are more likely to meet a girl.  I have found that bees are incredibly resourceful and that usually the decline of my hives is due to something I have done as opposed to something I have failed to do.  I say, put the hives out their and let them be.  You might be surprised. 
Brian

Bee-Bop

#2
August 02, 2009, 09:16:10 AM
Males & Females of all species { human, animal, insect } seem to have this get together for sex worked out pretty well.     :rainbowflower:

Bee-Bop
" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

Joelel

#3
August 02, 2009, 10:44:10 AM
Quote from: BearCountry on August 01, 2009, 09:16:21 PM
I'm not a beekeeper yet, but I plan to be in the spring.  I've done so much research online and with the help of this forum that I feel like an expert, and I'm sure I will be humbled as soon as I begin.

There is one thing I have been pondering.  Will the queens raised from my colonies be able to locate drones to mate with?  I don't have any beekeepers near me that I have seen.  The land around me (for a two mile radius) is mostly farmland with a few small groups of homes here and there, and some small patches of woods 5 to 30 acres in size. 

I've got 11 open acres covered in clover and thistle that I plan to place my colonies on, but I see a honeybee working there only on rare occasion (plenty of bumblebees though).  Do you think that drones from other honeybee colonies will be present in this environment?  I dont really want to have to purchase new queens for my hives every time one goes missing or needs to be replaced...and I would really prefer forks in my bees' family tree.

This is a great forum and it has been very very helpful, despite the fact I havent even started yet.  I can't wait to start applying my new knowledge!

If you don't want your queens mixing with just any drone,you need to raise your own drones and have alot of them around.
Acts2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation

riverrat

#4
August 02, 2009, 11:01:45 AM Last Edit: August 02, 2009, 11:52:33 AM by riverrat
Quote from: Joelel on August 02, 2009, 10:44:10 AM

If you don't want your queens mixing with just any drone,you need to raise your own drones and have alot of them around.

Queens will fly high and several miles to mate. This helps to keep  inbreeding to a minimum.  In order to saturate the area with your own drones you would have to have hives spread out over several miles.


I would be willing to bet it is the drone that seeks out the queen on most cases. After all most queens dont want the reputation of being cheap and easy. :-D
never take the top off a hive on a day that you wouldn't want the roof taken off your house

Joelel

#5
August 02, 2009, 11:37:31 AM
Quote from: riverrat on August 02, 2009, 11:01:45 AM
Quote from: Joelel on August 02, 2009, 10:44:10 AM

If you don't want your queens mixing with just any drone,you need to raise your own drones and have alot of them around.

Queens will fly high and several miles to mate. This helps with inbreeding in order to saturate the area with your own drones you would have to have hives spread out over several miles.


I would be willing to bet it is the drone that seeks out the queen on most cases. After all most queens dont want the reputation of being cheap and easy. :-D

Right,I have a queen rearing DVD and one queen raiser artificial insinuates theirs and one who don't has a few hundred acres and floods his land with drones and has his queens in the middle..
Acts2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation

BearCountry

#6
August 02, 2009, 02:12:58 PM
Quote from: Joelel on August 02, 2009, 10:44:10 AM

If you don't want your queens mixing with just any drone,you need to raise your own drones and have alot of them around.

Well, I'm not really concerned about which drones, like worrying about them being of bad stock or something, I just am hoping that there are other drones around within range of the queens besides the drones from my own hives.  I definitely dont want to force my hives to spend time and energy pumping out enough drones to "flood" my land.  It seems the consensus is that it's a fair bet that there are other colonies around me somewhere, which is what I was kind of guessing, I just wanted my guess reinforced.  Thanks for the input everyone.

NasalSponge

#7
August 03, 2009, 01:51:17 PM
I have only seen one or two bee around my house in 5 years (before mine) and my virgin had no trouble getting mated. These things have a way of working themselves out. :bee:

shemer

#8
August 03, 2009, 02:33:09 PM
Quote from: BearCountry on August 01, 2009, 09:16:21 PMI see a honeybee working there only on rare occasion (plenty of bumblebees though). 

bumblebee serve well as a drone, too. i have seen on number of occasions how furious they are mating with queens. true, that higher swarming is gonna come as a byproduct but then again, your colony will certainly benefit from it.

BruinnieBear

#9
August 03, 2009, 06:38:26 PM
HUH?!
Some days you just have to learn the hard way!

Bruce & Minnie Fairbanks

Bee-Bop

#10
August 03, 2009, 07:30:26 PM

            :imsorry:


I'm not getting near that statement !!

Bee-Bop
" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

NasalSponge

#11
August 03, 2009, 08:22:45 PM
Speaking of BB...this weekend a very large one flew around over my hives and pooped on them several times and them flew off.....That's right...a fly by pooping!! I no longer respect BB!! :-x

BearCountry

#12
August 04, 2009, 09:40:13 AM
Quote from: shemer on August 03, 2009, 02:33:09 PM

bumblebee serve well as a drone, too.


Serious?  Sorry, I'm not saying I dont believe you, I just havent heard that before and I haven't found a second source saying that (after a few minutes of searching).  So bumblebee drones can supposedly cross with honeybee queens? 

riverrat

#13
August 04, 2009, 10:23:31 AM
[
Quote from: shemer on August 03, 2009, 02:33:09 PM

bumblebee serve well as a drone, too.

Quote from: BearCountry on August 04, 2009, 09:40:13 AM
Serious?  Sorry, I'm not saying I dont believe you, I just havent heard that before and I haven't found a second source saying that (after a few minutes of searching).  So bumblebee drones can supposedly cross with honeybee queens?  

Got to have some fun here

I have some ocean front property in arizona that is just saturated with feral honey bee drones. And I believe it just might be for Sale to the highest bidder here :-D
never take the top off a hive on a day that you wouldn't want the roof taken off your house

BearCountry

#14
August 04, 2009, 10:28:42 AM
Okay, okay.   :roll:   :-D
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