Hi all,
I have observed over the last 3-4 days what appears to be aborting and ejecting of drones from one of my hives. Workers are pulling them out of the hive, some alive but not fully developed, and dumping. At first I thought a few casualties, but now think there is something more to it. Some of the bees are clearly not fully developed, while the rest are covered in fur (young).
I have heard bees will evict drones in the late fall before wintering, but these are very young and in some cases, aborted drones.
Is this hygienic behavior to verroa? Is it something else? Otherwise the hive is doing exceptionally well.
The picture was taken from casualties found on the ground outside the front of the hive.
I have observed over the last 3-4 days what appears to be aborting and ejecting of drones from one of my hives. Workers are pulling them out of the hive, some alive but not fully developed, and dumping. At first I thought a few casualties, but now think there is something more to it. Some of the bees are clearly not fully developed, while the rest are covered in fur (young).
I have heard bees will evict drones in the late fall before wintering, but these are very young and in some cases, aborted drones.
Is this hygienic behavior to verroa? Is it something else? Otherwise the hive is doing exceptionally well.
The picture was taken from casualties found on the ground outside the front of the hive.
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