"Never had any evidence for AVM, before now.
LJ"
Having had all the "book learnin'" under an accredited curriculum , I did for many years simply accept what was delivered as "Fact" . Only forming truely full education as I found different to those teachings in actual onsite discovery.
Much the same goes for "religous instruction" at that same Alma Mater.. but that is another story.
We were told - no doubt reaped from ancient accounts - "the queen leaves the hive to fly with her drones, mates with the superior drone and returns to the colony. The drone dies" - no explanation then as I gather (now) that information was witheld as it may 'corrupt' the ethos of that Boys College, religously so ;-)
For many years I simply accepted the teaching, having no real interest in exploring that area of beekeeping, until I did mix with some queen breeders of repute who rabbled on about "genetic diversity" and "line breeding queens". I took notes accquiring such terms as "drone congregations" (DCA today) and "apiary mating" (AVM today)... each of which are contradictory, if you take in the hypothesis (pl) of various studies.
I remain largely disinterested in the micromanagement of bee coitus, believing as it something wholly out of Man's control why bother oneself with such puzzles.
What will bee will bee.
Yet the eyes do roll a tad when I read/hear accounts (not on BMA, so far) of some who repeat the HunniAid frothings in some tacit fork of gaining or maintaining credibilty amongst BKs... such has got me into trouble at BK meets for vocalising the scepticism. Lucky for me I present an imposing figure ;-))))
What I do know, seen myself, is exactly that which is pictured in the earlier post. And usually in close proximity of the apiray if not immediately adjacent the colony being monitored for mating. I have never seen an eviscerated drone or heard any "popping" despite being there whilst mating flights are happening, on a number of occassions to date.
So... my question is, is anyone able to give account of true witness to the popular (?) DCA mantra, inclusive of these multiple matings of multiple queens. Or indeed something else?
Doing some Net legwork myself, I disappoint myself in finding only more of the same I read today in other forums... from whence those drone images came. I confess (mea culpa) I did some "fotoshopin'" to put both bees on one slide, yet due diligence was in place so as to not corrupt the facts. Facts quite evident, to myself :-)
[loose biblography]
..enough words in this account to indicate the 'account' is loose romantic analogy, to be taken "with a pinch of salt"
http://www.ravishly.com/2014/09/23/drone-male-honey-bee-sex-ejaculation-audible-mating-rituals..this fella has supped the HunniAde, touting evisceration.
He wears gloves, so again "with a pinch of salt" applies.
https://m.yout ube.com/watch?v=qO37yoTi9es
..one of many biblical repeats;
https://savannahbee.com/blog/the-drone-bee/... a compilation of modern theorys, this author, as does yours truly, ends in
questioning how genetic purity remains with a colony;
http://blogs.plos.org/retort/2011/04/29/royal-weddings-and-bee-mixers/[/loose biblography]
Cheers.
Bill