Ah, my first foray into Bee-l

snip --
There are hundreds of statements in beekeeping books that say drone comb should be reduced as only a few drones are "really" required. The objective stated is that the "excess" drones eat food and absorb colony resources that could be diverted to raising workers and thus more honey can be gathered.
snip --

Is there any evidence that this does not simply make the colony spend more resources replacing the lost drones?  If the colony "wants" a certain percentage drones, and a beekeeper keeps removing those made, will the colony not just keep making more, using resorces that could be put towards worker rearing or other duties?

snip --
A bee colony is not likely to do something in it's self management that is
harmful to its survival and prosperity.
snip --

Humans, take note.

Martin Damus
Greely, Ontario