A Comparison of Africanized and European Drones : Weights, Mucus Gland and Seminal Vesicle Weights, and Counts of Spermatozoa

Rinderer, Thomas E.; Collins, Anita M.; Pesante, Daniel; Daniel, Robert; Lancaster, Vicki; Baxter, James S.

doi:10.1051/apido:19850405

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The mean sperm number of 11.95 × 10 6 in the large drones are in good agreement with the findings of Woyke (1960; about 11 × 10 6 spermatozoa) in Poland, and with the study of Rinderer et al (1985;11.4 × 10 6 spermatozoa) on European drones in Venezuela. The sperm numbers are also within the same order of magnitude reported by Bassiouny (1992; 10.62 × 10 6 spermatozoa) on Carnolian drones.…”

Section: Differences In Sperm Numbers Among Dronessupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Both studies corroborate the potential importance of the differential semen production in small and large drones for male fitness in honeybees. The significant positive correlation of drone body size and sperm number is also supported by the fact that Africanized honeybees in South America have significantly lower body weights and at the same time lower sperm numbers than European drones (Rinderer et al, 1985).…”

Section: A Positive Correlation Of Body Size and Sperm Numbermentioning

confidence: 77%

“…However, even though there is no direct fighting among drones, body size might affect other traits concerning intrasexual selection. Flight ability (Moritz, 1981) 578 H. Schlüns et al and semen production (Rinderer, 1985) have been shown to vary among drones. Both traits clearly affect their individual reproductive success.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sperm numbers in drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) depend on body size

et al. 2003

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-The effect of drone honeybee's body size on semen production was evaluated. In the same colonies, drones were either reared in drone cells (large drones) or in worker cells (small drones). Wing lengths (size indicator) and sperm numbers of small and large drones were compared. Small drones (~13% reduced wing size) produce significantly fewer spermatozoa (7.5 ± 0.5 million) than normally sized drones (11.9 ± 1.0 million spermatozoa). There is a significant positive correlation between sperm number and wing size within the small drones and in both groups combined. In the large group alone no correlation was found. The rearing investment per spermatozoon is lower for small than for normally sized drones because small drones produce more spermatozoa in relation to their body weight. Since colonies usually produce large drones, the enhanced investment must be outweighed by a mating advantage of large drones.Apis mellifera / spermatozoa / male size / small drone / large drone / reproductive success

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Section: Differences In Sperm Numbers Among Dronessupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: A Positive Correlation Of Body Size and Sperm Numbermentioning

confidence: 77%

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Sperm numbers in drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) depend on body size

et al. 2003

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“…Both genetic factors and environmental conditions during their development and after emergence affect the quality of the resultant drones. Africanized drones weigh less and have fewer spermatozoa than European drones (Rinderer et al, 1985). Ruttner (1966) mentions that drones that are poorly fed during their development are poor at mating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometry and number of spermatozoa in drone honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) reared under different conditions

Mazeed¹

2011

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. The effects of three factors operating during pre-emergence development period on some characteristics of drones were studied. Weight of newly emerged drones, length of forewing, length of tibia, length of femur, length and width of basitarsus and number of spermatozoa in drones from colonies in which the workers had access to drone brood (A), the size of brood cells differed (B) or the colony had a queen or was queenless (C), were determined. For this purpose, 9 colonies were chosen at random from the test apiary and prepared so that each contained one empty Langstroth frame with six small sub-frames containing drone combs, three of which were used to test the effect of one level and the other three the other level of each factor. The results showed that, colony status had a greater effect on the parameters measured than either the size of the brood cells or whether the workers had access to sealed brood cells. Most of the parameters were significantly different in C, whereas only a few in B and non in A were significantly different. The distance between discriminant scores in each experiment enhanced the previous results, as it was highest in C, followed by B and then A. Optimal drone characteristics may be recorded for colonies in which the queens were induced to lay unfertilized eggs in newly built drone combs, and then removed and the drone brood reared in a queen less colony.

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“…However, African drones produce fewer spermatozoa than European drones (Rinderer et al, 1985). We inseminated our queens with equal volumes of African and European semen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patriline composition of worker populations in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies headed by queens inseminated with semen from African and European drones

DeGrandi-Hoffman

Schneider

2003

Apidologie

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-Honeybee queens with either European or African maternity were mated to African and European drones to determine rates of sperm utilization. The first month after the queens were inseminated, they produced equal proportions of workers with African and European paternity. However, for the next 3-4 months, more than 70% of the workers produced by queens of either matriline had African paternity. Overall, the queens produced a majority of workers with African paternity during the six-month study period. The possible impact that a higher rate of sperm utilization from African drones might have on the Africanization process is discussed.Apis mellifera / Apis mellifera scutellata / sperm utilization / Africanization process

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A Comparison of Africanized and European Drones : Weights, Mucus Gland and Seminal Vesicle Weights, and Counts of Spermatozoa

Abstract: SUMMARYAfricanized drones weigh significantly less than European drones and produce significantly fewer spermatozoa. The weights of the seminal vesicles and the mucus glands of Africanized drones are similar to those of European drones.

Cited by 27 publications

References 6 publications

Sperm numbers in drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) depend on body size

Sperm numbers in drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) depend on body size

Morphometry and number of spermatozoa in drone honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) reared under different conditions

Patriline composition of worker populations in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies headed by queens inseminated with semen from African and European drones

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