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Bleith Guard Bee
Joined: 05 Apr 2014 Posts: 51 Location: West Dundee, IL. USA
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:21 pm Post subject: Drones with no heads |
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I have recently found a few maybe 4 drones dead with no heads. Maybe it's nothing but I haven't noticed this before when I have seen dead drones. Any thing to be concerned with? |
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agapetos Guard Bee

Joined: 26 Jun 2012 Posts: 71 Location: Afghanistan
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a newbee on this subject, but I've heard that when the bees start preparing for the winter it is one of the first signs that they start throwing out the drones... possibly they got decapitated in that process?
But all in all, I think it is a normal, healthy process... hey - you've got few drones less to eat your honey  |
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MikeRobinson Foraging Bee
Joined: 01 Apr 2012 Posts: 201 Location: Upper Northwest Georgia, USA
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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... unless they are short of food, and are eating a source of protein?
I'd take a good, careful look inside that hive, right away. Do they have stores? |
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andy pearce Silver Bee
Joined: 30 Aug 2009 Posts: 663 Location: UK, East Sussex, Brighton
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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The only time I have seen decapitated drones/bees was during a bad wasp attack.
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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My experience is as Andy says.
Wasps attacking incoming foragers that have full honey stomachs and are perhaps getting tired and don't hit the entrance first time. Wasps loiter outside and pick off those tired workers that fall to the ground before they get chance to get air born again and bite their heads off to get at the nectar. Can't say I've noticed it with drones though. |
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Paul Reyes Nurse Bee
Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 26 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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I've also found some bees with no head go to know the a wasp caused it which maybe the reason in your case. |
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