On average, how many drones does a queen mate with?

A queen bee typically mates with a considerable number of drones during her nuptial flights, which primarily take place in the spring. The average number of drones a queen mates with is generally around 10 to 20. Selecting the choice of 12 drones aligns with the broader understanding of beekeeping and the reproductive behavior of honeybees.

During mating, the queen conducts multiple flights and can mate with several drones in quick succession, and this genetic diversity is crucial for the health and resilience of the hive. The drones contribute sperm to the queen, which she stores in her spermatheca to fertilize eggs throughout her life. Mating with a diverse number of drones helps to enhance the genetic variability within the colony, which is beneficial for adapting to environmental changes and diseases.

Other answers may suggest numbers slightly above or below this average, but the choice of 12 captures the most accepted estimate reflecting observational studies related to bee mating practices.