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Differences between queen- and worker-laid male eggs of the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Les œufs donnant des mâles sont-ils différents selon qu’ils sont pondus par une reine ou une ouvrière pondeuse chez l’Abeille (Apis mellifera)?

Unterschiede zwischen Drohneneiern gelegt von Königinnen und Arbeiterinnen der Honigbiene (Apis mellifera)

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated whether differences in the reproductive biology of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens and laying workers are reflected in their eggs. We first tested the capacity of queen- and worker-laid male eggs to withstand dry conditions, by incubating samples at 30.0, 74.9, and 98.7% relative humidity. We found that worker-laid eggs were more sensitive to desiccation. Secondly, we measured the weight and quantities of vitellin, total protein, lipid, glycogen, and free carbohydrate in queen- and workerlaid eggs. Although worker-laid eggs were found to be heavier than queen-laid eggs in two of the four replicates, no systematic differences were found regarding nutrient content. Finally, we compared the duration of embryo development in the two egg types. Worker-laid eggs developed more slowly than queen-laid eggs in two out of three replicates, suggesting that they may only be partly mature at the moment they are laid. Possible causes and consequences of the observed differences are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Königinnen und legende Arbeiterinnen der Honigbiene (Apis mellifera) unterscheiden sich in der Anatomie ihrer Geschlechtsorgane sowie in der Anzahl an Eiern, die sie produzieren können. Hier haben wir untersucht, ob sich die von beiden produzierten männlichen Eier ebenfalls unterscheiden. Zunächst verglichen wir die Schlupfraten von Königinnen-gelegten (Kg) und Arbeiterinnengelegten (Ag) Eiern aus drei Paaren von weiselrichtigen und weisellos Völkern bei unterschiedlichen Niveaus der relativen Luftfeuchte (Abb. 1, 2). Beide Eitypen zeigten sich empfindlich gegenüber Trockenheit, bei den Ag Eiern war dieser Effekt ausgeprägter als bei den Kg Eiern. Bei hoher Luftfeuchte unterschieden sich die Schlupfquoten der zwei Eitypen nicht voneinander.

In einem zweiten Experiment verglichen wir die Entwicklungsdauer von Ag und Kg Eiern. In zwei von drei Wiederholungen setzte der Eischlupf im Mittel bei den Kg Eiern früher ein (Abb. 3). Möglicherweise sind Ag Eier im Augenblick der Ablage in einem weniger fortgeschrittenen Ent wicklungs stadium.

Es ist bekannt, dass Ag Eier häufig größer und/oder schwerer sind als Kg Eier. Dies wurde damit erklärt, dass Arbeiterinnen eine geringere Anzahl an Eiern legen und daher mehr in jedes davon investieren könnten. Um das zu prüfen, haben wir die Mengen an Vitellin, Gesamtprotein, Glykogen, freiem Kohlenhydrat und Lipiden in Eiern aus vier Paaren von weiselrichtigen/weisellosen Völkern gemessen (Abb. 4). Ag Eier enthielten selten mehr Nährstoffe als Kg Eier, so dass die Hypothese widerlegt werden konnte.

Aus weiselrichtigen Völkern werden Ag Eier bekanntermaßen selektiv entfernt. Die höhere Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Dehydrierung könnte den beteiligten Arbeiterinnen dabei potentiell als Erkennungsmerkmal für Ag Eier dienen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Bee Research, F.-Engels-Strasse 32, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany

    Jakob Wegener & Kaspar Bienefeld

  2. Department of Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Matthias W. Lorenz

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  1. Jakob Wegener
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  2. Matthias W. Lorenz
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  3. Kaspar Bienefeld
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Correspondence to Kaspar Bienefeld.

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Manuscript editor: Stefan Fuchs

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Wegener, J., Lorenz, M.W. & Bienefeld, K. Differences between queen- and worker-laid male eggs of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Apidologie 41, 116–126 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009061

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