How do drones know when a queen flies?

**Lil Grain of Rice** · 09-07-2009, 03:27 PM

I was just wondering the other day, do drones routinely go out on patrols looking for a flying queen, or do they just laze about on the combs all day, and if so, how would they know when a queen from another hive flies?

**swabby** · 09-07-2009, 05:30 PM

Someone at our club meeting asked a simuilar question.The speaker a quick witted person said. " they all go to a singles bar ,talk the situation over ,then act on it." 30 or 40 beeks couldn't stop laughing . I couldn't help but respond to this ,sorry.

**Countryboy** · 09-07-2009, 06:17 PM

they all go to a singles bar ,talk the situation over ,then act on it."

That's pretty close. They go to a singles bar, and LOOK the situation over, and then act on it.

The drones fly to drone congregation areas (DCA's) everyday and hang out for a few hours. Virgin queens instinctively know where the DCA's are located, and fly there on her mating flights. One of the noticeable traits about drones is their big eyes, and they are able to easily spot a flying virgin queen. If the drones see a virgin queen, they try to commit suicide. If the drones don't see any virgin queens that day, they fly back home to their hive (or any other hive they can find) and then do it all over the next day.

**Lil Grain of Rice** · 09-07-2009, 06:23 PM

Neato. Thanks!

**honeyman46408** · 09-07-2009, 06:32 PM

The drones fly to drone congregation areas (DCA's) everyday and hang out for a few hours.

Hangin out down by the pool hall

**devdog108** · 09-08-2009, 10:45 AM

you say instinctivly, but as the example. I have a new hive here, for only about 3 months. When a new queen emerges, there has to almost be some luck involved. I know I have a feral swarm somewhere nearby, and have a beeline on it, but instincts, i am not sure of. To some degree yes, but you would think there has to be some sort of way to guide them, phereomone or something.......then again, maybe I am just an idiot! well, I am an idiot...LOL....

**Josh Carmack** · 09-08-2009, 11:55 AM

As an additional question to this, will a queen mate with her brothers? i have wondered about that, for quite some time but really haven't put forth the effort to find out.

**devdog108** · 09-08-2009, 12:05 PM

Well, you could say brothers, but how many are her sons???......

**oldenglish** · 09-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Josh Carmack

As an additional question to this, will a queen mate with her brothers? i have wondered about that, for quite some time but really haven't put forth the effort to find out.

Queens have been known to bypass the first DCA they come across just to go to one further away, thereby reducing the chances of inbreeding