Does Anyone Know The Proven Scientific Lowest Temperature That Queens Can Mate?

Ben Framed · December 20, 2019, 04:04:09 AM

I have not been able to find this answer. Does anyone here know the answer as to the proven lowest temperature that bees can successfully mate?
Thanks,
Phillip

Michael Bush · December 20, 2019, 01:10:30 PM

I'm sure no such fact exists. There are FAR too many variables. The less drones the less likely. The colder, the less likely. I'm sure race, location, climate, wind, temperature, number of drones (which depends on all of those variables as well as nectar and pollen). I've noticed without any nectar coming in a queen often won't fly at all even under otherwise good conditions.

Ben Framed · December 20, 2019, 01:23:46 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on December 20, 2019, 01:10:30 PM
I'm sure no such fact exists. There are FAR too many variables. The less drones the less likely. The colder, the less likely. I'm sure race, location, climate, wind, temperature, number of drones (which depends on all of those variables as well as nectar and pollen). I've noticed without any nectar coming in a queen often won't fly at all even under otherwise good conditions.

Thank you Mr Bush for responding. I agree that their are variables involved. Even so considering the variables, I am very curious as what lowest known temp a successful mating has been done. I also agree about nectar as well as pollen plays a very important factor. However, here in my area the conditions are warmer than, say the folks in Canada or your state as well. I have bees taking nectar (sugar water) regularly at 43 degrees. I use boardman feeders in winter and even now they are taking this sugar water at 43 and above along with flying and taking open pollen. I also noticed that drones were flying the other day when the temperature was 57 I am basing my questions on that. I was thinking why are drone constantly flying unless they are looking for queens?
Thanks,
Phillip

Michael Bush · December 21, 2019, 02:59:52 PM

I think it's a safe bet that if drones are flying queens are mating.

Ben Framed · December 21, 2019, 03:03:30 PM

Mr Bush, that is my reasoning as well... again I thank you for your valued response.
Phillip

TheHoneyPump · December 22, 2019, 03:33:43 PM

Proven Scientific Lowest Temperature ? .... personally not aware of such. Though knowing the historical depth and extent of study of the biology of queens, surely it exists.
Perhaps Van was experiencing a period of super-boredom - could design a BeeMaster experiment and conduct some trials.

As for proven observation of low temperature mating, yes have some to offer. I have seen queens flying as low as 16 deg C. A few I suspect went out a bit cooler, perhaps 14 deg C. None of those queens turned out to be long term viable. Though their brood patterns were tight, they were always slow at expanding and they failed entirely within 4 months.
The best queens observed have been the ones mated on 22-25 deg C days.
The good queens have been at anything over 19 deg C day.
The hot day queens, 27 deg+, have been decent - yet mediocre compared to the 22-25 queens

Clear blue sky vs overcast seems to make no difference. The two things having the greatest effect are temperature range and calm airspace, low breeze.

An emperical answer that hopefully you find acceptably founded and helpful.

Ben Framed · December 22, 2019, 03:42:11 PM

Quote from: TheHoneyPump on December 22, 2019, 03:33:43 PM
Proven Scientific Lowest Temperature ? .... personally not aware of such.
Perhaps Van was experiencing a period of super-boredom - could design such and experiment and conduct some trials.

As for proven observation of low temperature mating, yes have some to offer. I have seen queens flying as low as 16 deg C. A few I suspect went out a bit cooler, perhaps 14 deg C. None of those queens turned out to be long term viable. Their brood patterns were always slow and they failed entirely within 4 months.
The best queens observed have been the ones mated on 22-25 deg C days.
The good queens have been at anything over 19 deg C day.
The hot day queens, 27 deg+, have been decent - yet mediocre compared to the 22-25 queens

Clear blue sky vs overcast seems to make no difference. The two things having the greatest effect are temperature range and calm airspace, low breeze.

An emperical answer that hopefully you find acceptably founded and helpful.

This is the type information that I was hoping to find. Ever more so as per your details. Thank you Mr HP
Phillip

van from Arkansas · December 22, 2019, 04:57:29 PM

HP, Good answer. I got a chuckle of your described hot days, 27C or 81F. To the southern beeks a hot day is 100F plus, I think about 40C. Just a quick guess on the 40C, I did not do the math.

Hottest day I have seen in the south, 115F in the shade, in Arkansas, was about 2012~. At that temp, the drone gametes are dying.
Cheers

Michael Bush · December 24, 2019, 01:55:36 PM

The hottest I've seen was in the Panhandle of Nebraska in the mid 1980s and it was 114 F during the day for a week or two. Honey was running out of the entrances of the hives and the chickens were digging holes to sit in in the shade during the day and panting and all fluffed out. I hosed them off a few times a day which they seemed happy to get. That was after a winter where it was -40 F every night for a month and a half. Luckily global warming kicked in and it hasn't been that hot or that cold for that long since...