Where do honey bees (Apis mellifera) mate?

Abstract

In most landscapes, male honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) aggregate on their mating flights in perennial aerial sites known as “drone congregation areas” (DCAs). It is widely believed that DCAs are the locations where mating occurs. Surprisingly however, that role has never been objectively evaluated. What is the role of DCAs and where do honey bees mate? Several people have observed queens and drones mating in DCAs; however those sightings are biased because observers spend most of their time at DCAs. Contradictory evidence comes from (i) matings occasionally observed outside of DCAs and (ii) the absence of DCAs in featureless landscapes. Nearly all studies have relied on the aerial presentation of a queen or her sex pheromone to attract drones and locate congregations, thereby potentially interfering with drone behavior. An alternative view from radar tracking suggests that DCAs may be reorientation points as drones travel along flyways. We currently have no objective information on where matings occur because we have been unable to track queens on their mating flights. However, a review of the literature indicates that most authors now accept that DCAs are the primary (or only) mating sites despite the lack of direct supporting evidence. Collectively, research indicates that the distribution of drones across landscapes is influenced by landmarks, topography, drone abundance, weather, and possibly pheromones from drones and magnetic anomalies. Experiments to test the importance of these factors should be conducted in a variety of landscapes. Ultimately, long-range tracking of queens and drones in various landscapes will reveal mating locations and hopefully improve our ability to influence natural matings of queens with desired drones.