Virgin queens with satnav?

[Jordy]

Is it known how virgin queens find their way to where drones gather?
I live in an area not saturated with beekeepers, and lots of open fields mixed with housing. If they've never been out of the hive, how do they know where the boys are?

 

[Finman]

.
Up to this day yes.

We use to say that "The nature leads a woopecker boy to the tree"


Two flowers were falled in love to each other and spoke:" From where we get a bee?"

.

 

[BILL.HEARD]

There is some research being done which indicates that worker bees may escort virgins to and from the Drone Congregation Areas. With pheromones being produced by both drones and queens, drones can latch onto queens from the scent produced from one of the substances in her mandibular glands
They can be attracted by her from some 60 m. away.

 

[susbees]

My understanding is that the volume of drones hanging around in one place produces a volume of pheromone which attracts the low pheromone producing VQ to their hang out. Which is why you need loads of drones for a, erm, quick result.

Once in the vicinity he with the best developed nose and, erm, wings delivers. And promptly dies.

 

[huntsman666]

It may be more about the drones' antennae.

Drones have very many more receptors than workers who themselves have more than a queen.

So out she goes, travels anything up to six miles, emits her pheremone and the lads pick it up from quite a distance.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have what I presume to be a virgin in one of my hives (estimated hatched 7th May but the weather has been bad) After the hailstorm today the sun came out and it was quite warm. There were loads of drones hanging about at the entrance to the hive and buzzing about noisily......what's all that about?
Any ideas? Anybody?

 

[susbees]

Drones must orientate on the hive and test-fly like any other bee...but as they don't contribute much in terms of work then hanging about is the order of the day.

After several very breezy chill days here I walked past three of our hives just as the sun came out....out they poured for a bit of afternoon R&R. Walking back, grey and breezy, gone in again.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Drones must orientate on the hive and test-fly like any other bee
Ah. Do drones take some weeks to mature before they go out? This hive is broodless being the parent hive of an AS done on April 28th leaving behind an unsealed queen cell.

 

[susbees]

Yup. They remain in the brood nest (soft-bodied stage) for maybe 6 days, then man up and move to the edge of the nest and orientate/cleanse 6-9 days, start mating flights 12-18 days.

 

[huntsman666]

Yes but they are raised well before queens so there should be no problem with timing.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yup. They remain in the brood nest (soft-bodied stage) for maybe 6 days, then man up and move to the edge of the nest and orientate/cleanse 6-9 days, start mating flights 12-18 days.

Thanks for that.....it fits exactly.

 

[MrB]

Yup. They remain in the brood nest (soft-bodied stage)

HaHa, just read that as 'soft boiled stage'

Should have gone to specksavers!

 

[susbees]

HaHa, just read that as 'soft boiled stage'

Should have gone to specksavers!

Don't! You'll bring on the avalanche of eggs nightmare. Ours have been laying for boiled, poached, fried, scrambled, frittata, lemon curd, and cheese'n'spinach pie, sarnies and still there's more

 

[Skyhook]

Don't! You'll bring on the avalanche of eggs nightmare. Ours have been laying for boiled, poached, fried, scrambled, frittata, lemon curd, and cheese'n'spinach pie, sarnies and still there's more

My god! How many bee eggs do you need for a frittata?

 

[susbees]

My god! How many bee eggs do you need for a frittata?

Ha
Ha

 

[Jordy]

Thanks for your replies beeks. As always, some interesting reads.

 

[drstitson]

you could also ask how drones find their way to DCAs for the first time.

 

[susbees]

you could also ask how drones find their way to DCAs for the first time.

Part topography, part meteorology, part following the first guy's aftershave?