Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) - The varroa parasite often develops in the drones' cells. During the fertilization flights, which last twenty or so minutes, a drone might land on a leaf to warm itself up. The males' peak flying time is between 2pm and 5pm. They fly at a height of 10 to 40 metres above the ground. The males' average flight distance is 900 metres.