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Thu, 17 Nov 1994 08:06:00 -0700 |
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Although the fall (with some hives even after a few days of bad weather
in summer) eviction of drones is sometimes a dramatic event, the timing
and thouroughness of it varies. In the fall here, when hives are grouped
for feeding and bear protection, in yards of 200 or so, it's quite
noticeable that some hives trigger earlier than others (yellow ones
earlier, or is it later?). (Something like the variable tolerance of 2
queens in a colony.) I don't know if anyone has separated the possible
genetic influence, from the "forage conditions" effect. Either one could
explain the observation Cameron noticed. As Paul vW noted, queen
problems also result in drones being retained through winter.
In late winter, however (early April here) there are sometimes quite a
few drones in "medium" sized, healthy colonies which are rearing just a
frame or two of worker brood (very unlikely that they have reared the
drones since winter). I suppose I couldn't rule out the possibility that
the drones wintered in queenless colonies, then drifted to stronger
ones....).
Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
1201 103 Ave
Dawson Creek B.C.
V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299
INTERNET [log in to unmask]
For latitude watchers, this week is the first of the season, that I get
to watch the sun rise after getting to work (8:30) (to make up for
summer's midnight twilight).
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