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Queen mating flites

2K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  Michael Bush 
#1 ·
I know that in 1787 Huber discovered that queens mated outside of hives. In 1788 he reported that he had two queens that mated more than once. In more modern times, entomologists have stated that Queens have been on up to three mating flights.
Is there any recent scientific Information that Queens are mated more than two or three times?
 
#5 ·
I've heard from several experts who say they often fly out and mate for two or three days. It seems to depend on how well (how many drones) she's been mated. She will continue until she's well mated or something else (such as bad weather) intervenes. Once she starts laying, it's doubtful (but hard to prove one way or the other) she ever mates again. Certainly there have been clipped queens that lived and layed to a ripe old age of many years that could not have flown again.
 
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