How many drones do bees typically mate with during their flights?

Queens typically mate with a substantial number of drones during their mating flights to ensure genetic diversity within the hive. The correct choice indicates that a queen normally mates with between 10 to 30 drones. This range allows for a robust genetic pool, which is crucial for the vitality and resilience of the bee colony. A queen's multiple matings provide her with a variety of sperm, which she stores and uses throughout her lifetime to fertilize eggs. This genetic variability helps produce offspring that may better adapt to changing environmental conditions, resist diseases, and maintain the overall health of the colony.

The other ranges suggest either fewer or more matings, which would not align with typical mating behaviors observed in honey bees. Fewer than 10 matings may not provide sufficient genetic diversity, while higher numbers than 30 could suggest an unusual mating scenario, as it is rare for queens to mate beyond that range in natural settings. Thus, the specified range of 10 to 30 strikes a balance that reflects the natural mating process observed in many honey bee populations.