Drones Episodes

Returning guests Dr. Chip Taylor and Dr. Gard Otis revisit queen mating, DCAs, and Africanized honey bees—exploring what we know, what we still don’t, and how decades of research have reshaped long-held assumptions.

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome researchers Dr. Orley “Chip” Taylor and Dr. Gard Otis to discuss their fascinating work on drone congregation areas (DCAs)—the mysterious gathering points where honey bee drones meet virgin queens for mating. The conversation explores how DCAs are located, the behavioral cues that guide drones, and what these sites can tell us about colony genetics, health, and evolution. Drawing from decades of fieldwork and scientific inquiry, Chip and Gard share insi...