The Queen Bee’s Mating Flight: A Vital Journey for the Hive
A queen bee’s life centers around one significant event: her mating flight. This unique process is essential to the hive’s future, as it provides the queen with everything she needs to create a thriving colony.
The Mating Flight
Around 7 days after emerging, the queen embarks on her first and only journey to mate. She flies to a drone congregation area (DCA), located high in the air—between 4.5 to 40 meters (15 to 130 feet) above the ground. Male bees, known as drones, gather in these spaces solely to reproduce, with no other role in the hive.
During the flight, drones compete fiercely for the opportunity to mate with the queen. Only the fastest and strongest are successful. Depending on how much sperm she collects, the queen may only need one flight, though some take two.
Drones and Their Role
Once the queen mates, the drones’ reproductive organs rupture, causing their immediate death. While drones may only live to reproduce, their role is critical. By mating with several males—usually between 10 to 20—the queen ensures a diverse genetic pool for her future colony.
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