Do Only Virgins Pipe

[Ben Framed]

I have a question. Do only virgins Pipe? Any one know the answer to this?

[jtcmedic]

I believe yes due to there low pheromone to detect or draw a queen.

[AR Beekeeper]

I have had mated queens in cages pipe when they were placed next to a group of other caged queens.

[Ben Framed]

I have had mated queens in cages pipe when they were placed next to a group of other caged queens.

Thanks AR.  Do you know if there is a specific reason why queens pipe?

[AR Beekeeper]

There may be more than one type call involved, I have read about tooting, piping, and quarking.  The call appears to be a challenge to another queen.  The challenged queen will either fight or leave.

[BeeMaster2]

Queens pipe when they are being kept sealed in in their queen cells. The bees are keeping them from killing each other. They usually want to swarm multiple times. If you hear piping, it is time to take the hive apart. Multiple swarms can kill a hive. Small Hive Beetles usually take over the hive during the multiple swarms.
Jim

[Ben Framed]

Thanks Fellows, This leads me to another question. Seems I am always asking questions.    Thanks for your patience. The next question relates to your reply AR Beekeeper. And to the main reason that I ask the first question.

''There may be more than one type call involved, I have read about tooting, piping, and quarking.  The call appears to be a challenge to another queen.  The challenged queen will either fight or leave.''

The question, and what I have been wondering:  I am going to say flights instead of flight, because I have read or heard somewhere that a virgin will sometimes make multiple mating flights. Do virgin queens pipe when on their mating flights.  Is this possible, impossible, or not probable. Seems to me that if a virgin queen had a certain sound that she makes while on the mating flight, the Drones would come running; so to speak 

[BeeMaster2]

Ben,
When virgin queens make their maiden flights, they go to drone congregation areas and fly around and then spiral up with a comet of drones following. The fastest drone mates first and then the next fastest mates. Drones do not have good hearing. They do have over sized eyes designed for spotting queens. Ashley Mortezen did her thesis on drone congregation areas and did a great lesson at bee college a few years ago.
Jim

[Ben Framed]

Ben,
When virgin queens make their maiden flights, they go to drone congregation areas and fly around and then spiral up with a comet of drones following. The fastest drone mates first and then the next fastest mates. Drones do not have good hearing. They do have over sized eyes designed for spotting queens. Ashley Mortezen did her thesis on drone congregation areas and did a great lesson at bee college a few years ago.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I have read the above and studied about drone congregation areas, but I never have heard or read the question that I ask about a virgin piping on the mating flight, and the possibility of making a specific piping sound while in this process. Thank you for your answer.

[van from Arkansas]

Thanks Fellows, This leads me to another question. Seems I am always asking questions.    Thanks for your patience. The next question relates to your reply AR Beekeeper. And to the main reason that I ask the first question.

''There may be more than one type call involved, I have read about tooting, piping, and quarking.  The call appears to be a challenge to another queen.  The challenged queen will either fight or leave.''

The question, and what I have been wondering:  I am going to say flights instead of flight, because I have read or heard somewhere that a virgin will sometimes make multiple mating flights. Do virgin queens pipe when on their mating flights.  Is this possible, impossible, or not probable. Seems to me that if a virgin queen had a certain sound that she makes while on the mating flight, the Drones would come running; so to speak 

Mr. Ben, I heard queens pip and quak, the quak sound like a duck at a distance.  One queen pip, the other quak back at her, they were talking to each other.

[Ben Framed]

Mr Van, thanks for your answer. Tonight is the first of three big nights for you and I and others which may be in the line of the drastic change of weather for the next three nights! I hope our bees make it through ok!  I am just about ready to pipe my way to bed for a cold winter nights sleep! Hee hee.

[van from Arkansas]

Ben,
When virgin queens make their maiden flights, they go to drone congregation areas and fly around and then spiral up with a comet of drones following. The fastest drone mates first and then the next fastest mates. Drones do not have good hearing. They do have over sized eyes designed for spotting queens. Ashley Mortezen did her thesis on drone congregation areas and did a great lesson at bee college a few years ago.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I have read the above and studied about drone congregation areas, but I never heard or read the question that I ask about a virgin piping on the mating flight, and the possibility of making a specific piping sound while in this process. Thank you for your answer.

Mr. Ben, when you think of queens, think antenna, a sensory organ connected straight to the brain.  This antenna is responsible for detecting everything that is important to a queen.  More important than eyes or hearing combined, the antenna is used for communication via pheromones and detection of hive well being or various alarm scents.  Smell to a queen is the single most important data input.

To interpret surroundings we go by site and sound, to bees it?s by smell for the most part.

[Ben Framed]

Ben,
When virgin queens make their maiden flights, they go to drone congregation areas and fly around and then spiral up with a comet of drones following. The fastest drone mates first and then the next fastest mates. Drones do not have good hearing. They do have over sized eyes designed for spotting queens. Ashley Mortezen did her thesis on drone congregation areas and did a great lesson at bee college a few years ago.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I have read the above and studied about drone congregation areas, but I never heard or read the question that I ask about a virgin piping on the mating flight, and the possibility of making a specific piping sound while in this process. Thank you for your answer.

Mr. Ben, when you think of queens, think antenna, a sensory organ connected straight to the brain.  This antenna is responsible for detecting everything that is important to a queen.  More important than eyes or hearing combined, the antenna is used for communication via pheromones and detection of hive well being or various alarm scents.  Smell to a queen is the single most important data input.

To interpret surroundings we go by site and sound, to bees it?s by smell for the most part.

I agree, and we are talking insects here, But in the animal world, creatures go by sight, scent and sound. For instance, the beautiful elk which afforded you the delicious meat, goes by scent, sight, and sound. Horses as well. This includes sounds for fighting, mating, and general communication.  Dogs? Yes indeed. Sight, smell and sound for each of the above.  My question is just a theory, and maybe a valid one. I don't know how it would be possible to prove or disprove as who would be able to be close enough to a virgin as she was flying at multiple heights and distances. I was wondering if any of you here had ever heard or thought of such a thing.  Really the answer is irrelevant but I was and am still curious.

[BeeMaster2]

Ben,
I suspect that the piping is a way for queens to say, I?m the strongest queen, release me next. If you listen closely when they are piping, you can hear that each queen has a different voice.
Jim

[Ben Framed]

Ben,
I suspect that the piping is a way for queens to say, I?m the strongest queen, release me next. If you listen closely when they are piping, you can hear that each queen has a different voice.
Jim

Thanks Jim, Bees are very interesting to say the least. There is so much to learn!   

[BeeMaster2]

Ben,
I suspect that the piping is a way for queens to say, I?m the strongest queen, release me next. If you listen closely when they are piping, you can hear that each queen has a different voice.
Jim

Thanks Jim, Bees are very interesting to say the least. There is so much to learn!   

Ben,
That is why Beekeeping is so addictive.
Jim

[Ben Framed]

Ben,
I suspect that the piping is a way for queens to say, I?m the strongest queen, release me next. If you listen closely when they are piping, you can hear that each queen has a different voice.
Jim

Thanks Jim, Bees are very interesting to say the least. There is so much to learn!   

Ben,
That is why Beekeeping is so addictive.
Jim

True, one JP and Schawee video and I was off to the races..

[Michael Bush]

Laying queens pipe.  If you put several laying queens in cages near each other they will be piping to each other.

[jtcmedic]

Well very interesting,

[BeeMaster2]

Laying queens pipe.  If you put several laying queens in cages near each other they will be piping to each other.

This is basically what happens when the bees keep the queens in their cells.
Jim