Drone bees pupae kicked out the hive

[Jon.21]

I’ve got 4 hives and noticed a pile of drone pupae last week from 1 hive only. I’ve seen them kick out mature drones last year in the autumn but not drone pupae. Is this due to the sudden change of weather getting colder that they’ve decided it’s not worth rearing drones any more ?

 

[blackcloud]

Most colonies will have also thrown out adult drones weeks ago

 

[JamezF]

I’ve got 4 hives and noticed a pile of drone pupae last week from 1 hive only. I’ve seen them kick out mature drones last year in the autumn but not drone pupae. Is this due to the sudden change of weather getting colder that they’ve decided it’s not worth rearing drones any more ?

Quite possibly, I think. Drones (and drone brood as far as I recall) consume a lot of food. If the bees reach the point where it's clear they're not going to be a benefit then it makes sense for the survival of the colony to get rid of them all as soon as possible.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

Quite possibly, I think. Drones (and drone brood as far as I recall) consume a lot of food. If the bees reach the point where it's clear they're not going to be a benefit then it makes sense for the survival of the colony to get rid of them all as soon as possible.

James

More room for late stores!

 

[JamezF]

More room for late stores!

Indeed so.

James

 

[ericbeaumont]

noticed a pile of drone pupae last week

Look closer at the dead brood and you'll see that the drone larvae wings are absent or deformed.

The colony has a high varroa load: what treatment have you applied?

Varroa prefer drone larvae because the 24-day gestation enables varroa to reproduce more successfully.

Good news is that the bees recognised the damaged larvae and evicted it.

 

[Ian123]

Also worth checking hive for stores!

 

[lindsay s]

I have known that colonies will often remove brood if under severe stress. A few years ago one of my strong queen right hives with plenty of stores and varroa free, removed their drone brood mid summer. I could never figure out why!

 

[madasafish]

Lack of food?
High varroa?
Both?

 

[lindsay s]

Hi madasafish I hope you post was meant the original poster and not me.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have known that colonies will often remove brood if under severe stress. A few years ago one of my strong queen right hives with plenty of stores and varroa free, removed their drone brood mid summer. I could never figure out why!

Hi. How do you do for honey up there?