Hi Alan, I just read your topic here and I'm reminded of your previous topic, ''Mite count zero''. Which back in December, you told us of your beautiful queen cells. You, I, and Mr Van and maybe others touched on the subject of drones in your topic then. Without knowing all the details I am thinking that early, (very early), development of those same queen and drone cells are a key to your now, drone eviction topic.
Please allow me to ask a few questions. Are there other hives in your area doing the same, (early queen cells and drone cells?) Now I do not know this for a fact, but it certainly stands to reason that bees would not develop plenty of queen cells without also developing plenty of drone cells. I really would like to learn more of your situation of the queen cells. What you did with them? How did you handle them? What was the fate of the queen cells? How did things turn out for the queens during that time? Did any of them make successful, or for that matter, (unsuccessful mating flights)? I am asking these questions while taking in consideration your California Weather as this development was only days, before the winter solstice. And that my friend is what makes it so interesting to me. I would appreciate you sharing the above inquisitive information with us, even the details of that situation. I look forward to learning from you and your experiences with this unique ''to me'' happenings. I suggest again, the answers to the evicted drones, may indeed be a piece of a bigger puzzle?
Thanks, Phillip