I don't think that theory holds water :)
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I don't think that theory holds water :)
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Which theory is that, DR? Jürgen Tautz's suggestion that workers accompanying the queen might chase away undesirable drones? Perhaps it doesn't hold water. I don't think he is too sure about that either - just a possibility based on his observation of the workers' behaviour when the queen is placed outside the hive.
Or do you also doubt that the virgin queen is accompanied by a small entourage of workers? (He suggests about 20 workers, depending on the size of the colony.) Or is that a well-known fact? Jon might know.
I did not understand what you meant in your previous post regarding drones accompanying the queen - so I've been pondering about that (but perhaps I should make time now to watch the video!).
Kitta
What I have seen involves several hundred workers with the queen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mellifera Crofter
I think there is a great deal still to find out about queen mating.
Those rfid transmitters will form the basis of some interesting experiments re queen mating in the future.
Hi KittaQuote:
Originally Posted by Mellifera Crofter
No I'm pretty sure that Tautz is on to something there
There is always a big fuss when queens pop out for flights
I was only just stretching the point to say that the queen might leave home with an entourage of burly brothers who would act as chaperones
Just a flight of fancy :)
The things that puzzle me are mainly
Why do queens not mate in fly lanes on the way to DCA's (or do they)
How can there be a mechanism for her to mate with selected drones
Some experts claim mating maximises out crossing others say that Amm select Amm mates
Does Apiary Vicinity Mating exist and does it defy a fundamental mating principle of the honey bee
Can claims of pure mating for Amm in hybridised areas be correct
If there is a mate selection process why would operate differently for Amm and not be universal
Sorry for introducing confusion to your valuable information from Jurgen Tautz which was genuinely news to me
Apologies
DR
Thanks Jon - with such a huge entourage the workers may well be able to protect the queen from undesirable drones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon
Oh! I like flights of fancy. The image is now firmly lodged in my brain.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Drone Ranger
Kitta
Hi Kitta
The video basically says drones go to the nearest DCA and stay as long as possible
Queens stay out far shorter time but don't go to the nearest DCA
Probably this gives the most chance of unrelated drones and avoids inbreeding
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Thanks DR! The summing-up is helpful - but I will make time to watch it as well.
Kitta
Thanks for this, well worth a watch - absolutely fascinating, and amazing how long research has been going on.
Interesting that they don't really know what happens in flat areas - given they don't seem to have DCA's but queens still get mated!
David
Hi WmfdQuote:
Originally Posted by Wmfd
Check this out if you have 50 min to spare (about varroa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE4emUMyOWs
Yes Wmfd that is a bit of a puzzleQuote:
Originally Posted by Wmfd
About 20 mins into this video the professor talks about flat areas and also what weather conditions would be helpful in finding possible drone congregation areas
She also says a simple check is throwing stones into the air the drones follow them
Anything with a pulse (or even without one) it would seem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI26DLS2CyM