Effects of Insemination Quantity on Honey Bee Queen Physiology
Author Information
Author(s): Richard Freddie-Jeanne, Tarpy David R., Grozinger Christina M.
Primary Institution: North Carolina State University
Hypothesis
Mating number could modulate queen physiology, behavior, and pheromone production.
Conclusion
Insemination quantity significantly affects honey bee queen physiology, pheromone profiles, and queen-worker interactions.
Supporting Evidence
- MDI queens attracted significantly more worker bees than SDI queens.
- Chemical profiles of mandibular glands differed significantly between virgin, SDI, and MDI queens.
- Brain expression levels of a gene associated with phototaxis were significantly different between SDI and MDI queens.
Takeaway
The amount of sperm a queen bee receives can change how she behaves and how other bees in the colony respond to her.
Methodology
Queens were instrumentally inseminated with semen from either one drone or ten drones, and their pheromone profiles and worker attraction were measured.
Limitations
The study focused only on two insemination quantities and did not explore other potential influencing factors.
Participant Demographics
Honey bee queens (Apis mellifera) from different insemination groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.02
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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