Marton wrote:
 
>My question is this: I went out to the hive today to watch for a while and
>I noticed that there where some very large looking bees coming and going.
>They where a lot darker in color than the workers and about 4 or 5
>millimeters longer and thicker, they also made a lot more noise when they
>flew. These guys where coming and going without any trouble.
 
******
 
   Those were likely drone honey bees (the males), that normally fly in
mid-afternoon.
 
   You should really read a couple of Sue Hubbell's books (for example, A
COUNTRY YEAR and A BOOK OF BEES).  She has kept bees in the Ozarks and
writes very well!
 
                                                        Adrian
 
Adrian M. Wenner                         (805) 893-2838 (UCSB office)
Ecol., Evol., & Marine Biology           (805) 893-8062  (UCSB FAX)
Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara           (805) 963-8508 (home office & FAX)
Santa Barbara, CA  93106
 
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