When should drones go

[beepig]

I am here in west Pembrokeshire with black bees, whose reputation is to expel drones early. Why then in mid October have they not done so.any bright ideas.

 

[drex]

Bees do not go by the calendar. They will expel drones when the weather cools and resources become more scarce. It is mild here for time of year and mine are still foraging like mad

 

[Erichalfbee]

Still a few drones flying about here too

 

[alfazer]

Still some here. I have some boxes with a pile of dead ones on the ground from around mid September and others boxes that still seem to have quite a few left.
Last year I saw some in December.

 

[Curly green fingers]

A very strong colony with loads of stores maybe . Some of mine kicked them out when the honey flows stopped.
This year they were kicked out early . Last year I was still feeding and I had drones still in the hive.

 

[Wingy]

Still seeing the odd 1 or 2 here but most were kicked out a few weeks ago. Could be lots of reasons, mild weather, lots of stores, strong colonies etc. Don’t suppose the Q could have become a DLQ? I know someone who has 3 such hives at present and surprisingly still has plenty of drones around

 

[beepig]

Thanks all,
It is a strong colony a cast swarm caught 6th June saw the virgin queen escorted out on virgin flight. Nine days later she began laying. Since then two supers honey followed by two supers ivy honey. Shall remove one when flow over. And remove queen excluder. At mo.. busy busy bees

 

[Bakerbee]

I havent seen one drone in any of my hives for at least 8 weeks.

 

[beeno]

Still seeing the odd 1 or 2 here but most were kicked out a few weeks ago. Could be lots of reasons, mild weather, lots of stores, strong colonies etc. Don’t suppose the Q could have become a DLQ? I know someone who has 3 such hives at present and surprisingly still has plenty of drones around

Happened to one of mine. The first thing they did after treatment was to build QCs, drones in drone cells and in worker cells. Did a unite with supersedure daughter previously removed and they only got rid of the drones last week. Presumably happy now. Strong colonies may overwinter some drones though without there necessarily being something wrong in the colony. Remember being caned on the forum by tweedledum and tweedledee for that statement. Never mind we are all learning.

 

[birdsandbees]

still have quite a few Drones in mine in the south Midlands, I was painting a few hives yesterday in the afternoon sunshine when the Drones all came out on flights.

it's not unusual for me to have a few Drones kicking around into early winter but this year they still seem pretty abundant, the weather is due to change to more seasonal temperatures in the next couple of weeks so no doubt evictions will ensue.

 

[Millet]

Still got them flying here from one hive..

 

[Tiro Turbidus]

It's the 1st January (Happy New Year) and I'm in the North of Scotland. My two colonies seem to be overwintering just fine and they have fondant on. The weather has been up and down a bit but it has been down as low as -7 centigrade and the pond has been frozen over half a dozen times since the beginning of November. I went to have a look at my hives this morning and one of them had half a dozen dead bees just behind the mouse guard. I fished them out and they look healthy (apart from being dead). However, one of them was a drone. I watched the drones being expelled in early September and I (as a beginner) was under the impression that no drones over-wintered, so I was surprised by that. Are drones in early January something that should be expected?

 

[enrico]

Not expected no. Sometimes a few overwinter especially if it is mild. But it could, and I only mean could, indicate a drone layer. I wouldn't worry too much, there is not a lot you can do just yet!
E

 

[Tiro Turbidus]

Thanks Enrico - It wasn't something I'd been aware of. As you say, if she's laying drones now (or not long ago) there's nothing I can really do about it yet.

 

[user 6228]

In any where in the Crawley area of Sussex then as early as possible

 

[Beefriendly]

In any where in the Crawley area of Sussex then as early as possible

You been on the "sauce" Derek..your sentence makes no sense.

 

[Angry_Mob]

You been on the "sauce" Derek..your sentence makes no sense.

Think electronic drones and a major airport.

 

[MartinL]

Think electronic drones and a major airport.

Didn't they turn out to be owned by the Police?

 

[Jonnyl]

I started vaping 16 days ago and finished the third vape yesterday. After the first vape i asked this question as i saw drones and the possibility of a DLQ was alluded to then. However, yesterday i looked through the poly for ages and lit the hive from the bottom and couldnt see any drones. Seven seams of bees, packed, no deformed wing, all munching away on fondant. Was encouraged and went to replace the mouseguard. Two fat, bugged eyed drones came out onto the landing board. Another arrived just as i finished. So yes, they do keep drones. Its a first year queen, she laid well all summer and no issues going into winter so i can only imagine they're all good. I have a 14x12 and fed them well before closing up so maybe the abundance of stores and a here to mild winter has allowed them to keep some drones?

 

[MartinL]

Its a first year queen, she laid well all summer and no issues going into winter

Doesn't need to be HM laying the eggs!