Lawrence Cooke wrote:
 
> Just a note When I went in today I found a cluster of about 30 drones
> on
> some open honey cells, odd.
>                                  lc.
 
   There is an erroneous impression from way back when that drones are
not capable of feeding themselves.  That is totally wrong.  Drones will
feed from open honey cells.  Drones have a short tongue and thus can not
forage but they surely, and they do, feed from open, full honey cells.
Honey bees can not think, but they sure have a mechanism of "self
protection." They "know" that drones represent a form of reduction of
their honey stores, and no small wonder, they do take them out of the
confines of the colony.  As soon as the nectar flows stop, the drones
are in danger of being expulsed by their sisters.
The timing is not exact, ti varies from year to year.
Best regards.
Dr. Rodriguez
Virginia  Beach, VA