Caste swarms and mating...

[susbees]

Just mulling, but why is it that if drones fly so well and strongly that VQs in castes don't get mated whilst swarming? Do the worker hoardes fight them off or what?

 

[Midland Beek]

Too immature to mate?

 

[Skyhook]

There is a minimum altitude (I think about 10m if I recall correctly?) below which drones show no interest in queens. Presumably swarms fly below this.

 

[mbc]

she probably doesnt smell sexy yet - pheramones are hugely important to most things bees do