Daft Question.

[Millet]

After reading about late Queen supercedure and new Queens appearing on this years first inspections could it be possible that a drone or drones can mate with a Virgin Queen within a hive, sorry but i my brain is like a sieve lately and i forget some things i have read.

 

[Beefriendly]

After reading about late Queen supercedure and new Queens appearing on this years first inspections could it be possible that a drone or drones can mate with a Virgin Queen within a hive, sorry but i my brain is like a sieve lately and i forget some things i have read.

No. Not a chance.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

In fact large enclosures were erected by at least one noted scientist, to contain drones and queen in the hope of a mating. That did not work either and there was infinitely more space available than within a hive.

 

[Millet]

No. Not a chance.

Why please.

 

[Anduril]

Why please.

The queen has to fly. If it happened inside the hive then there would be inbreeding.

 

[domino]

Why please.

They mate on the wing.

 

[Erichalfbee]

While we're here.
How do drones find DCAs?
By chance?

 

[Beefriendly]

While we're here.
How do drones find DCAs?
By chance?

Depletion's of horizon...except in East Anglia
explanation see Tautz-The Buzz about bees- covers it very well.
I hear he was a no show at the Northern Bee convention today...pleased I didn't go now.

 

[Millet]

The queen has to fly. If it happened inside the hive then there would be inbreeding.

Haha. sorry but if she flies will she still not be inbred..

 

[Millet]

They mate on the wing.

I know that, but i am just curious, i will not repeat my original post in this reply..

 

[Zante]

Haha. sorry but if she flies will she still not be inbred..

From what I understand, the escort she flies with keeps close relatives at bay.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

From what I understand, the escort she flies with keeps close relatives at bay.

Sounds like most social gatherings up my way

 

[Millet]

Sounds like most social gatherings up my way

 

[Erichalfbee]

From what I understand, the escort she flies with keeps close relatives at bay.

I listened to a very interesting lecture at the National Honey Show describing research that showed drones fly in DCAs near their home and queens fly much further away. The reason being that drones need a long time in the air to maximise their chances of mating while the queen doesn't.
It's here if anybody is interested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI26DLS2CyM&feature=youtu.be

 

[Nige.Coll]

I've had 25% supersedure in one apiary this year. All the resulting bees are darker in colour.
The queen cannot mate in the hive but some think AMM bees have apiary vicinity mating allowing queens to mate in bursts of sunshine during poor weather without having to fly to a DCA.

Plenty info about it on the net.

 

[For want of a better word]

The queen cannot mate in the hive but some think AMM bees have apiary vicinity mating allowing queens to mate in bursts of sunshine during poor weather without having to fly to a DCA.

Plenty info about it on the net.

Yes I think so too.
Evolutionary trait in response to environmental conditions ( 10,000 years)

Mediterranean sub species have long hot sunny summers set into their genetic make up... and have not evolved to the sometimes inclement Northern Temperate Maritime climate we have... and continue with their mating habits as recorded by those who have kept them for the past century and a half+!

But I will continue my quest to find the DCA that apparently existed and seen in the Summer of 1936 in my own " Doone Valley".... diminishing horizon etc etc!!.... totally drone flooded with ( DNA certified) Cornish Amm !!

Cue a witch hunt!

Yeghes da

 

[Gilberdyke John]

You have a talent for self Persecution