When does drone exclusion occur

[oxnatbees]

Presumably this varies across the country and with forage levels.

What factors determine when it occurs?

When do you see it in your hives?

Do all hives do a forced exclusion, or do some just wait for the drones to die off once the queen stops laying them?

 

[madasafish]

July to September/October.
Not happened here year: usually end August but each hive varies.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It varies here and from hive to hive. What I’ve noticed is that one or two colonies end up with the ones that have been chucked out.

 

[rolande]

As others, it varies but it can be quite illuminating to lift a hive which still has a lot of drones off its floor in the second half of August/early September because you'll often see the drones all corralled on the bottom board without food, to weaken them in preparation for expulsion. I know this isn't a necessary action but it must certainly make the worker's job easier.

 

[ericbeaumont]

drones all corralled on the bottom board

Saw this yesterday: took a nuc out of the top half of a vertical split done way back and saw the split board covered in drones like sheep in a pen. Not seen it before.

 

[Murox]

Saw this yesterday: took a nuc out of the top half of a vertical split done way back and saw the split board covered in drones like sheep in a pen. Not seen it before.

Similar here, except most were up in super, no QE used.

 

[elainemary]

Sometimes can be an indication that a colony is superseding it’s queen - lots of drones in that hive when others are throwing them out

 

[oxnatbees]

Thanks, very educational

 

[oliver90owner]

Any time or not at all (well, not all the drones - usually, I suspect, when there is a virgin queen present).

 

[Erichalfbee]

Sometimes can be an indication that a colony is superseding it’s queen - lots of drones in that hive when others are throwing them out

I have that. One new homegrown queen still laying. Two supercedure cells. Masses of drones in there.

 

[Ian123]

Do some late queen rearing Nucs and surrounding colonies will keep the boys around longer than a site down the road.

 

[Apiarisnt]

Two days ago:

 

[Boston Bees]

Two days ago:

View attachment 27714

Oh, ouch ..... great photo

It's like The Handmaid's Tale in reverse ....

 

[rolande]

6th of July after 3 weeks of poor foraging. The capped drone brood in the hive was left unharmed.