breeding swarm

[leechmann]

When a virgin queen leaves the hive to be bred, how much attention does she attract? How does she know where to go to attract the drones? Will she mate with drones from her own hive? Anyone ever see a mating swarm?

thanks Leechmann 

[AllenF]

Think about it, an available girl leaves home alone into the air where there could be hundred (or thousands) of drones flying around.   These boys will know it and flock to her.   The scent gets around.  She will mate from as many drones as possible and some from her own hive. 

[b reeves]

leechmann,
Every Drone in the area knows there is a virgin queen in a hive, or they know there is no laying Queen, Drones are not hive specific, they can travel in and out of many hives, they will accumulate in the virgins hive and I assume they know when she leaves, I don't think anything is left to chance
Bob