Goodbye Drones...nobody loves them now

[kevinmbong]

I was feeding the couple swarm hives we got this year, and I noticed some commotion at the entrance of another hive.  At first I thought maybe something was attacking them, but when I went to look closer I saw that they were dragging drones out of the hive and kicking them to the curb, and turning away any drones that landed and tried to enter.  I'd read that the ladies will do this in the fall...this is my second year so I've never seen it before.  Pretty cool.  I noticed a bunch of dead and dying drones in front of the hive too.  I ran back home to get the camera and snap some pics. Unfortunately I don't have enough posts to the forum to post links yet, but here's where you can find them:

img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=goodbyedrones1dr6.jpg

img87.imageshack.us/img87/8403/goodbyedrones2sf4.th.jpg

img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=goodbyedrones3xv7.jpg

[Hillbillenigma]

Poor Fellas. 

That first picture is a classic though!

[jojoroxx]

That is so sad.  :-\ I love those loud buzzing laggards!

Oh well... we have to pass through this loss; indeed both autumn, and winter must be endured until we are rewarded with new drones, and spring! 8-)