THE DRONE. 69 



THE DRONE. 



Drones are males, and without stings, and are about 

 one-fourth larger than the workers, making their ap- 

 pearance in the month of March, and continuing dur- 

 ing the season of breeding, serving no other useful 

 purpose* than to impregnate the young queens ; for 

 shape, see plate No. 1. 



They leave the hive for excursions from 10 o'clock 

 A. M., to 3 P. M. When on the wing, they make 

 a loud and quick buzzing sound, easily distinguished 

 from that made by the workers. 



The number found in each hive varies from less 

 than one hundred to several thousand. When very 

 numerous, they consume a large proportion of the 

 honey, rendering the hive unprofitable. As only a 

 small number is necessary to each hive, it will be 

 well to prevent useless hoards being reared. This 

 can be done by removing most of the drone or large- 

 celled comb from the hive in the early spring, or at 

 any period during the season. A portion however 

 should remain and be allowed to mature, for if all is 

 destroyed, the bees will persist in rebuilding. 



By placing the frame from which the drone comb 

 was cut between two combs already built, they are 

 more likely to rebuild with worker comb. 



* Various opinions formerly prevailed as to the use of the 

 drone. The following one, given to me many years ago by an 

 aged bee-keeping friend of the name of Brown, is, I believe, orig- 

 inal. "The drones (said he) are for the purpose of tramping 

 the mortar for the worker bees to build combs of." 



