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

Michael Holmes , Michael Allsopp , Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar , Theresa Wossler , Benjamin Oldroyd , Madeleine Beekman

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.

Mots clés: Apis mellifera scutellata; Apis mellifera capensis; sperm competition; Africanization; hybrid zone

Domaines: Zoologie des invertébrés; Biodiversité; Ecologie, Environnement; Science des productions animales

Michael Holmes, Michael Allsopp, Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar, Theresa Wossler, Benjamin Oldroyd, et al.. Sperm utilization in honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis) in South Africa. Apidologie, 2011, 42 (1), pp.23-28. ⟨10.1051/apido/2010031⟩. ⟨hal-01003563⟩