Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sperm utilization in honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis) in South Africa

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Apidologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We artificially inseminated queens of Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis with equal numbers of drones of both subspecies to determine the effects of sperm genotype on rates of sperm utilization. Contrary to a previous study we did not find a consistent overrepresentation of workers sired by A. m. scutellata males in the first four months after insemination. Interestingly, our study does suggest that there is a significant interaction between drone and queen genotype in both subspecies, with queens of each subspecies producing more workers sired by drones of the same subspecies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aljanabi S.M., Martinez, I. (1997) Universal and rapid salt-extraction of high quality genomic DNA for PCR-based techniques, Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 4692–4693.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allsopp M. (1992) The capensis calamity, S. Afr. Bee J. 64, 52–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson R.H. (1980) Cape honey-bee sanctuaries, S. Afr. Bee J. 52, 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer B. (2005) Sexual selection in Apis bees, Apidologie 36, 187–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beekman M., Allsopp M.H., Wossler T.C., Oldroyd B.P. (2008) Factors affecting the dynamics of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) hybrid zone in South Africa, Heredity 100, 13–18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buys B. (1990) Features of basic reproduction in drones and queens of the Cape honeybee Apis mellifera capensis, in: Anderson R.H., Buys B. (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Beekeepers’ Symposium: Bees and beekeeping in Southern Africa, Posa & WPBA, Cape Town, pp. 106–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGrandi-Hoffman G., Tarpy D.R., Schneider S.S. (2003) Patriline composition of worker populations in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies headed by queens inseminated with semen from African and European drones, Apidologie 34, 111–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franck P., Garnery L., Loiseau A., Oldroyd B.P., Hepburn H.R., Solignac M., Cornuet J.-M. (2001) Genetic diversity of the honeybee in Africa: microsatellite and mitochondrial data, Heredity 86, 420–430.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hepburn H.R., Crewe, R.M. (1991) Portrait of the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, Apidologie 22, 567–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hepburn H.R., Radloff S.E. (1998) Honeybees of Africa, Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeniger G., Koeniger N., Pechhacker H., Ruttner F., Berg S. (1989) Assortative mating in a mixed population of European honeybees, Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera carnica, Insectes Soc. 36, 129–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koeniger G., Koeniger N., Tingek S., Phiancharoen M. (2005) Variance in spermatozoa number among Apis dorsata drones and among Apis mellifera drones, Apidologie 36, 279–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laidlaw H.H. (1978) Instrumental Insemination of Honey Bee Queens, Dadant & Sons, Inc., Hamilton, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin S.J., Wossler T.C., Kryger P. (2002) Usurpation of African Apis mellifera scutellata colonies by parasitic Apis mellifera capensis workers, Apidologie 33, 215–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onions G.W. (1912) South African “Fertile” worker bees, S. Afr. Bee J. 1, 720–728.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinderer T.E., Collins A.M., Pesante D., Daniel R., Lancaster V., Baxter J. (1985) A comparison of Africanized and European drones: eights, mucuc gland and seminal vesicle weights, and counts of spermatozoa, Apidologie 16, 407–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solignac M., Vautrin D., Loiseau A., Mougel F., Baudry E., Estoup A., Garnery L., Haberl M., Cornuet J.-M. (2003) Five hundred and fifty microsatellite markers for the study of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) genome, Mol. Ecol. Notes 3, 307–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spivak M., Breed M.D., Fletcher D.J.C. (1991) The African Honey Bee, Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma S., Ruttner, F. (1983) Cytological analysis of the thelytokous parthenogenesis in the Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz), Apidologie 14, 41–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Lab, School of Biological Sciences A12, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Michael J. Holmes, Benjamin P. Oldroyd & Madeleine Beekman

  2. Honeybee Research Section, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa

    Michael H. Allsopp

  3. Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar & Theresa C. Wossler

Authors
  1. Michael J. Holmes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael H. Allsopp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Theresa C. Wossler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Benjamin P. Oldroyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Madeleine Beekman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Madeleine Beekman.

Additional information

Manuscript editor: Marina Meixner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holmes, M.J., Allsopp, M.H., Noach-Pienaar, LA. et al. Sperm utilization in honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis) in South Africa. Apidologie 42, 23–28 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2010031

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2010031

Keywords

Search

Navigation