At 08:28 AM 2/20/97 UT, you wrote:
>Any ideas on why drones were flying from both of my hives yesterday?I live in
>Boston,USA. Yesterday the temperature was 64 degrees F.One hive is Buckfast
>the other is Italian.Both seem to be healthy.This has been my first year
>keeping bees and this goes against everything that i've read.any suggestions
>would be appreciated.Thank You.  Garry Libby  [log in to unmask]
>
>----------
 
 
Gary:
 
I also have hives producing drones in mid-winter here in Morgantown, WV (39
N). I have never seen it before-- and I have been keeping bees since 1977. I
have had several reports from other beekeepers in West Virginia about drones
occurring all of this winter. I have also had reports of swarms in August
and September last year, which is very unusual. I wonder if some AHB
genetics are starting to filter into production packages and queens? This
reminds me of the "disappearing bees" we had back in the late 70's and
80's--colonies that would abscond in fall and the middle of winter.
 
Anyone else in northern climes have drones in their hives?
 
Sincerely,
 
Prof. Jim Amrine
Division of Plant & Soil Sciences
P. O. Box 6108, West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108
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