Is this a drone? ** Picture **

[nutlub]

Hey fellow beekeepers,

This is my first year at beekeeping and so its all new to me.
Can someone tell me what kind of bee this is?

http://trippingastral.com/images/bees.jpg


At first I though these big bees we robbing my hive. But I noticed that the were walking into my hive totally unmolested and I started to think maybe they were drones. Is this a drone?
Also, if its a drone, whats it doing out of the hive. I thought they only came out into the open when it was time to 'knock boots' with the queen?

Also, every now and then I see two bees rolling around on the ground fighting. Its never a bunch of bees...its always just two bees. What are they doing? Is one bee from another hive?

Thanks in advance!

[sqkcrk]

Yup, ats a drone. Nice set of pictures. Mind if I steal it and put it on my Facebook Page?

[nutlub]

Sure! Use the picture!

[CaBees]

What software did you use to magnify it?

BTW, I asked the same question when I first started out!

[nutlub]

Nothing fancy... I just used Photoshop.

[Peter]

Is your bottom board commercially made? and if so by which company? It appears to be pressure treated and I always wondered whether pressure treated lumber could be safely used in a hive.

[nutlub]

I got it from Mann Lake LTD. It came with a note saying that the board was treated with a food grade protectant or something or other. Here is a link: Click Here

In fact I just found the note!....here is a link to the actual note that was in the box.

[BeeTech]

Yeah, you can tell a drone from their eyes which seem to cover their whole head, and their fat, square, hairy butts (and no comments from the peanut gallery on how similar they are to humans!).

They actually come out regularly to hang out in Drone Congregation Areas (DCA's) waiting for any queens that may show up.

[heus]

If you have ever seen the movie Eurotrip, DCA's remind me of the nuse beach scene. Bunch of guys hanging around waiting for a female to walk by.