Hello. I happened to notice a lot of drones being thrown out of the hive a few weeks ago. Poor fellows seemed bewildered. They kept trying to get back in but the girls were roughing them up and herding them away. Probably a response to late summer dearth I assumed...Queen must have ordered the drones be ejected
Fast forward several weeks and I now have fair amount of capped drone brood mixed in with worker brood and I am seeing what appear to be young drones being allowed into the hive.
I don’t see any swarm cells but I didn’t see the queen either on last inspection. I added a slatted bottom board because I have had such heavy bearding at night...N Florida heat and a crowded colony. I also added a honey super.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the drone situation? I have read they are often thrown out during dearth’s as well as routinely for mite management. I dunno. This is my first colony which I started from an Italian nuc last spring. Imagine many of you have probably forgotten more than I have learned about bees....
Fast forward several weeks and I now have fair amount of capped drone brood mixed in with worker brood and I am seeing what appear to be young drones being allowed into the hive.
I don’t see any swarm cells but I didn’t see the queen either on last inspection. I added a slatted bottom board because I have had such heavy bearding at night...N Florida heat and a crowded colony. I also added a honey super.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the drone situation? I have read they are often thrown out during dearth’s as well as routinely for mite management. I dunno. This is my first colony which I started from an Italian nuc last spring. Imagine many of you have probably forgotten more than I have learned about bees....