On 1 Feb 99, at 23:48, Computer Software Solutions Ltd wrote:
 
> I would however like to know where the above system stands with relation
> to Drone Congregation Areas, where I understood (until now), all
> fertilisation of queens takes place, and that outside these areas, the
> drones show little if any interest in a queen. It would seem to me that no
> matter how many drones left the mating hive with the queen, their presence
> would be diluted to insignificance by the greater number of drones in the
> congregation area.
> If the above system can be used, it would appear to rule out tiny mating
> nucs since they most likely could not support the necessary drones.
 
Can't say I agree with the idea that mating only takes place in
congregation areas.
        I've noticed, more than once, early flights of queens followed by
a veritable cloud of drones issuing from all the hives in the yard,
even on dull windy days!  I've also seen a queen land on a branch
and immediately a full cluster of drones landed with her,no workers,
thought is was a mini swarm,a few minutes later they all took off.
        So all I can say is, don't believe all you read.
As I posted just recently, we use mini nucs and from experience
they don't make drones. They seem to tolerate them as we find
drones in them early in the season just after having set them up,
but givern a few weeks they disappear. If you use mini nucs for
mating you must have drone mothers in full sized hives. Incidently
use 2nd or 3rd year queens as drone mothers. Young queens don't
make drones easily.
 
 
 
 
 
 
*****************************************
The Bee Works, 9 Progress Drive, Unit 2,
Orillia, Ontario, Canada.L3V 6H1.
Phone (705)326 7171 Fax (705)325 3461
David Eyre, Owner
e-mail<[log in to unmask]>
http://www.beeworks.com
This months special:-Queen Rearing Equipment.
****************************************