AI6YR BenHa, figured out a way to seed better population genetics for feral bees, if anyone really wanted to--involving deliberately creating queenless hives with desirable genetics, and a "drone layer" (nonfertile queen)--causing a MASSIVE population of drones with desirable characteristics during mating season. (similar to how they put out sterile mosquitos and fruit flies). #beekeeping #science
"drone laying" hives are considered a failure by beekeepers... but you could artificially create these conditions and super populate an area with drones of desirable genetics. I believe this is how more Africanized bees are succeeding more in some areas -- you notice their hives are ABSOLUTELY full of drones, spreading their genetics. (it's a problem when the queen is aggressive). The ferals in SoCal are succeeding very well because they are more resistant to Varrhoa mites, which typically attack drone cells first. This is not the case in feral hives, where drones do well due to whatever resistance they have. #beekeeping
So the way to fix this is: create a drone creating (drone layer) hive, but keep it going as long as you can by occasionally dropping full frames of female (capped) brood in there. You have to make sure that capped brood is far enough along they don't create a queen, but keep using the drone layer. The other frames in the hive will be 100% drone brood, passing on the desirable genetics of the original bees you placed in the hive. As long as you keep adding frames with capped femal brood, the hive will persistent as a drone layer indefinitely. #beekeeping #science
me_valentijn@ai6yr
The chapters of Ben's Bees are practically writing themselves! 🤗
The chapters of Ben's Bees are practically writing themselves! 🤗
bees and nature@ai6yr I'd have thought putting a couple of frames of drone foundation in a queen led hive would be better. But when you think how far bees go to lek in drone congregations I'm not sure it will work. Also the bossy drones seem to get in there at lek sites.