[Beelosopher]

Looks like while it might have been fun, he got his man parts ripped off.

I have found three of these in my yard, where I have my grafted queens who should be on mating flights.

Do you agree?

 

[NewBeeLady]

Yup.

 

[Saltybee]

Cringe.

 

[drlonzo]

And he gave his life willingly for the future of his species Something as a human i don't know if i could handle myself.. lol

 

[jwcarlson]

Interesting, so they're mating locally? How many hives do you have in the area?

 

[Tim KS]

It was probably the fall that killed him...

 

[GLOCK]

He looks happy.

 

[rweakley]

And he gave his life willingly for the future of his species Something as a human i don't know if i could handle myself.. lol

Are you kidding we give our lives for the species also, the death throws just take a lot longer LOL

 

[wildbranch2007]

Hey that looks like one of my drones from across the street, please be kind no burial, cremation is our preferred method. :thumbsup:

 

[Tim KS]

If you look reaaal close, he has that last cigarette still clutched in his foreleg.

 

[Northwest PA Beekeeper]

Well, at least he was one of the HUNDREDS that got chosen. I'm sure there are many drones that never get to complete their "mission". And in the Fall, they are kicked out to die anyhow.

He will now live on and have many, many daughters!

 

[jbeshearse]

He was a great guy, looking forward to helping rear his countless daughters. He was planning to do right by them and their mom. He was not going to be one of those guys that just hung around eating what was gathered by others and then going off to hang out with the guys. You know the ones that just buzz around telling stories of their previous conquests. He was going to contribute. So sad, cut down in the prime of his life. One look and he knew she was the one he had spent his whole life waiting for. He thought he was the one and did not realize he was just another burnt out conquest of love in the wild.

 

[Beelosopher]

Interesting, so they're mating locally? How many hives do you have in the area?

There are quite a few locally. Outside of my hives I know 3 other beeks personally with hives, then who knows how many within 5 miles from my house. I know there are some other commercial guys who haul in from teh south and place bees.

in other words, there are lots of hives around.


Wildbranch - I knew he looked familiar

 

[ericweller]

It sounds like you are in a Drone Congregation Area. They say the drones find the same spot year after year although they don't know what causes them to be drawn to the area. Virgin queens fly through the DCAs and mate in mid-air.
I learned that a drone would fly about 1 mile from the colony to a DCA for mating and a virgin queen will fly 2 miles for mating, that way she doesn't mate with any brothers.
So if you are in a DCA, those drones are from hives about a mile away.

 

[snl]

Looks like every mans idealist vision of if I gotta go.. "That's the way I want to go!"

 

[Bee Bliss]

I wonder if they die instantly or if they try to make it back to the hive they are from. Anyone know? I ask this because we have two hives in our back yard and have found "lucky" drones (in two different years). Or maybe Lucky followed Ruth(less) back to her hive from the DCA!!