Queen mating flight

[Eugene Willson]

Hi all,
I saw one of my hives with a bunch of bees ( about 200) at the entrance fanning their wings with the tail up in the air, this hive has a virgin queen in it and it is about time for her to go on a mating flight, do the bees do this when she leaves to mate?
Gene

[Blacksheep]

They are trying to help her find her way back to the hive!

[GSF]

Eugene, I was in the area of one of my hives when the virgin queen returned from her mating flight. I thought they may be swarming but when I went to it I saw droves and droves of drones entering the colony.