How far do virgin queens usually fly compared to drones from the same bee yard?

Virgin queens typically fly farther than drones from the same bee yard during their mating flights. This behavior is significant as it enhances genetic diversity within a bee population. Drones are specifically designed to stay near their home hive; they will congregate in drone assembly areas where they await the arrival of virgin queens. Their primary role is mating, and they do not venture far from the hive for this purpose.

In contrast, virgin queens need to mate with several drones to maximize their mating success and ensure a diverse gene pool for the colony. To achieve this, they are capable of flying long distances, sometimes several miles away from their original hive, seeking out drones in these assembly areas. This pattern in flight behavior highlights the queen's critical role in maintaining the health and vitality of the hive through effective mating strategies.