TOO MANY DRONES? Drones have a use, but they're not perfect!

摘要

Many times I have looked at a hive and thought that this hive has too many drones. Then I remember the items that are available to confine, trap or eliminate drones, so it isn't an unusual observation that a hive may have a lot of drones. What are thereasons for there being a lot of drones? What is a normal amount of drones to have in a hive? Is having a lot of drones a good or bad practice? As a beekeeper interested in honey production, a lot of drones in a hive seems a detriment because drones take up space, eat a lot of honey, and do not perform any duties within the hive. Drones exist to mate with a queen from a different colony, and to provide some positive morale for his nest mates. In the Fall of the year the workers realize that most of the drones are no longer required and force them out of the hive, but there still may be a token number of drones that overwinter.