Morphological characteristics of Apis m. carnica
Les caractéristiques morphologiques Apis m. carnica
Morphologische Merkmale Apis m. carnica

Drone, Le faux bourdon, Drohne

Trot - Apis_m_carnica

Male honeybees, or drones, play an important role in the genetic diversity of the colony. During the mating season, drones leave the hive to find Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs) where they wait for a queen to fly by. The queen will mate with drones from numerous colonies, which broadens the genetic pool and increases the chance of the colony surviving.
A drone congregation area (DCA) is a specific place where drones gather and wait for virgin queens to visit. All honey bee mating takes place in air—never on the ground or in the hive. DCA’s attracts drones and queens together from a wide area.
Drones, mate with a virgin queen bee in mid-air. During this process, the drone inserts his endophallus into the queen and ejaculates semen. After ejaculation, the drone pulls away from the queen, but his endophallus is ripped from his body, remaining attached to the newly fertilized queen. The drone dies shortly after mating.



## The Role of Drones in Honey Bee Colonies and Associated Challenges

Drones, the male bees in a hive, play a crucial role in the reproductive success of honey bee colonies. Their primary function is to mate with virgin queens, which is essential for genetic diversity and the overall health of the colony. Understanding the role of drones and the challenges they face provides insight into their importance within the hive.

### Role of Drones

1. **Mating with Queens**:
– Drones are specifically designed for mating; they have larger bodies and bigger eyes to help them locate queens during mating flights. They congregate in Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs) where they wait for queens to arrive.
– A queen typically mates with multiple drones (12-30) during her nuptial flights, which helps ensure genetic diversity within the colony. This genetic mixing enhances the colony’s ability to resist diseases and adapt to environmental changes.

2. **Genetic Diversity**:
– The mating process contributes significantly to genetic diversity, which is vital for the survival of bee populations. A genetically diverse colony is more resilient against diseases and environmental stressors.

3. **Temperature Regulation**:
– While their primary role is mating, drones can also contribute to thermoregulation within the hive. .

4. **Indication of Hive Health**:
– The presence of drones in early spring signals that a hive is healthy enough to support them, as they require resources without contributing to nectar or pollen collection. Their emergence indicates that conditions are right for swarming and queen mating.

### Challenges Faced by Drones

1. **Limited Lifespan**:
– Drones have a short lifespan, typically around 55 days, and most die shortly after mating due to physical exhaustion or injury during the process. This limited time frame necessitates effective timing for mating flights.

2. **Eviction from Hives**:
– As autumn approaches and food becomes scarce, worker bees often evict drones from the hive because they do not contribute to foraging or hive maintenance. This eviction leads to starvation or hypothermia for the drones left outside.

3. **Competition for Mating**:
– During mating flights, drones face intense competition from other males. Only a few will successfully mate with a queen, which can lead to high mortality rates among those that do not succeed.

4. **Vulnerability to Pests**:
– Drone brood is particularly susceptible to pests like Varroa mites, which prefer feeding on drone larvae due to their longer development time. This vulnerability can lead to increased mortality rates and weakened colonies if not managed properly.

5. **Perception as Non-productive**:
– Drones are often viewed negatively by beekeepers who may see them as unnecessary since they do not collect nectar or pollen or perform other hive tasks. This perception can lead to efforts to reduce drone populations in hives, potentially impacting genetic diversity and colony health.


  • The abdomen is dark, never yellow;
  • The hair are grey to greyish brown;
  • The cubital index is 2.0 (1.8–2.3).

• l’abdomen est de couleur foncée, jamais jaune,
• les petits poils sont de couleur brune-grise,
• l’index cubital est de 2,0 (1,8-2,3) mm.

• der Hinterleib ist dunkel, niemals gelb,
• die Haare sind grau bis braungrau,
• der Kubitalindex beträgt 2,0 (1,8–2,3).


carnica Medokost®
Apiaries – Imkerei – apiculture MEDOKOST & MEDOVITA, Slovenia
Apis mellifera carnica MEDOKOST® – Kozjansko, Slovenia
Certified queen bee breeding center for the Carniolan bee (Apis m. carnica)
Centre d’élevage de reines certifié pour l’abeille carniolienne (Apis m. carnica)
Zertifizierte Bienenköniginzuchtstation für die Krainer Biene (Apis m. carnica)

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