killing drones

[Kirk-o]

Why do bees kill the Drones?
kirk

[ian michael davison]

Hi Kirk
Bees don't necessarly kill the drones unless they remove under developed bees from the cells. But in the Autunm they are expelled from the hive as surplus to requirements. As the hive approaches winter there is no need for them as there will be no virgin queens around for them to mate with. Drones are only supported by a hive in order to spread the colonys genes.


Regards Ian

[Apis629]

Unless your in an area that has mild winters with nectar and pollen flows in the winter.  Although the population of drones in the hives are reduced, they never disapear down here.

[Michael Bush]

The drones are good insurance during periods where a queen could mate.  They are just mouths to feed the rest of the time.

[Finsky]

I have noticed that when night tempereture goes in August near 0C , several hives start drone killing.  Last autumn was very warm. Drones were in hives abnormally long time.

[Michael Bush]

The ferals, I notice, keep a few drones all year round.  There are still a few here and there in the hives, even in the nucs.  The Italians and the Buckfasts used to just massacre them all.  :)