Body size and age of drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) affect the structure and characteristics of mating congregations via dispersal

Abstract

Honeybees form aerial mating aggregations, which consist of many males (drones) from colonies nesting in an area. Dispersal from natal colonies underlies the formation of drone congregations, but little is known about the effect of dispersal and dispersal-related traits on the structure and characteristics of these congregations. This study measured the body size and age of drones in congregation sites at different distances from the colonies to evaluate the potential factors limiting dispersal distance. The relationship between these factors and flight abilities was also assessed using a flight mill to understand how these affect the congregations via dispersal. The size of trapped drones increased, the proportion of young drones (< 10 days old) decreased with distance from the colonies, and the size was correlated with flight time and velocity. The results indicate that body size and age of drones may affect the structure and characteristics of mating congregations via dispersal.