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Laurence Edwards examines a honeybee colony that's 80-90% drones, with laying workers producing unfertilized eggs that become more drones. This ratio means the colony cannot recover.
Laurence Edwards examines a honeybee colony that's 80-90% drones, with laying workers producing unfertilized eggs that become more drones. This ratio means the colony cannot recover.
I know when I see a frame like that, there is no coming back whatsoever. So frame number 1, lots of drones. Frame number 2, lots of drones. Huge amount of drones. If I had to have a guess there, I'd say that there was 80 to 90% drones in this colony. You've got drone brood in there as well. You've got a few laying workers going round laying up the cells with multiple eggs on the sidewalls, and those eggs that have not been fertilized are turning into drone brood. And that is why you're seeing so many drones in this failing colony.
