Drones of Apis dorsata (Fabricius 1793) congregate under the canopy of tall emergent trees in Borneo.

The drones of Apis dorsata performed their mating flights at dusk. They took off simultaneously from the colonies. The flying drones produced a distinct hum which was clearly audible. By following this flight noise on several consecutive days, a drone congregation area (DCA) was located under the canopy of a high emergent tree. There, the drone's hum was regularly heard at the expected time and several A dorsata drones were caught. Under the canopy the drones were attracted to a queen dummy impregnated with queen pheromone. Dummies outside the canopy or above the tree did not attract any drones. Further, drone attractivity showed a clear maximum several meters below the canopy. Under the canopy of other emergent tall trees three more DCAs were detected. At another place one observation on a slope of a mountain resulted in the detection of a DCA downhill in the valley. No drones were found under tall trees on the slope. In A mellifera and A cerana the factors that cause the drones to congregate at a distinct place are still unknown. So, the clear feature of the A dorsata DCA in Borneo involving a landmark is unique. Observations from other parts of the extended natural distribution of A dorsata in Asia are required to confirm whether the drones of this species generally congregate under the canopy of emergent tall trees.

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