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).