Hello All
Is it known how the queen stores the sperm from different drones?.
Is the sperm held in the spermatheca such that the sperm from drone A is
used, and when completely used up is followed by the sperm from drone B etc.
If this be the case then we will get a batch of workers with like
characteristics, followed by another batch of workers with like
characteristics but possibly different from the earlier batch.
On the other hand if the sperm is 'all mixed up' then we can have different
types of workers in the hive at the same time.
Any comments?
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
Hobbyist beekeeper
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
Latitude 53 Degrees 16' North
Longitude 6 Degrees 9' West of Greenwich