Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Blackbird on September 11, 2004, 05:19:46 pm

Title: Drones getting the boot?
Post by: Blackbird on September 11, 2004, 05:19:46 pm

It appears that the drones are being kicked out of the hive already.
There are LOTS of them dead and dying outside of the hive. I even saw some pre-hatch drones out there. Is any one else seeing this at their hives yet?

Title: Drones getting the boot?
Post by: Robo on September 11, 2004, 05:23:53 pm

Check the pre-hatched ones for DWV (deformed wing virus).  I seem to find that the drones are more suceptible to it than workers.   Maybe because varroa prefer drone larvae.  Look for shriveled up wings.  If they have it, that may be why the bees are cleaning them out.

Title: Drones getting the boot?
Post by: Blackbird on September 11, 2004, 05:27:15 pm

I'll take a peek today when I inspect.
I'm waiting for my vaporizer to arrive so I can do and oxalic acid treatment for them. There are more mites now than in the spring when I first got them. About 25 to 30 in 24 hours so I think it prudent to treat now.

Title: Drones getting the boot?
Post by: Stinger on September 13, 2004, 12:55:22 pm

While I was watching my hives on Saturday I noticed the drones were being booted out.  Most even had an escort or two right on top of them.  It was interesting to watch.  As soon as a drone would light back on the landing board, one of the girls would grab him and start dragging him away from the hive.  Every once in a while one or two would be carried out from inside the hive also.