How do bumblebees mate?
As mentioned in the life cycle page, the males emerge from the nest before the queens. When the males are not drinking nectar from flowers they fly along regular routes stopping on the way. Studies in Scandinavia have shown that each species has a favoured height for these patrols, some fairly close to the ground, and others at around 15 metres. They stop at the same places on route, there are probably easily seen landmarks, and deposit a fragrant secretion from a gland between their mandibles (jaws). This tends to happen in the morning, but they will replenish the marking after rain. Again the group of chemicals that make up the secretion appears to be different in each species. Sladen, in his book, says that this secretion has a smell that even humans could detect, and that it is very pleasant. It is not known for sure, but it is assumed that the queens detect the males by flying around at the correct height till they detect the fragrance of the males. Then mating takes place. Howeve
