Abstract
Drone honey bees develop from haploid/unfertilized/diploid eggs produced
by parthenogenesis or from fertilized eggs having identical sex alleles, formed after
sexual reproduction, with more probability when the queen mates with drones of the
same hives. Nurse bees generally remove diploid drone larvae due to cannibalism
hormones secreted by developing larvae. Further, the development of drones is
influenced by colony temperature, hence can be completed within 24-25 days. Queen
attracts drone honey bees toward herself with pheromones9-ODA,9-HAD and 10
HDA. Drone number depends upon the colony's environmental conditions and
available food to the colony. The specific chapter provides deep insight into the
development of drones, the biology of drones, the reproductive system and the mating
behaviour of particular castes.