Numbers of spermatozoa in queens and drones indicate multiple mating of queens in Apis andreniformis and Apis dorsata.

• Main Authors: Koeniger, Gudrun, Koeniger, N., Mardan, Makhdzir, Punchihewa, R. W. K., Otis, G. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1990
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15855/1/Numbers%20of%20spermatozoa%20in%20queens%20and%20drones%20indicate%20multiple%20mating%20of%20queens%20in%20Apis%20andreniformis%20and%20Apis%20dorsata.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15855/; http://www.apidologie.org/index.php?option=com_article&access=doi&doi=10.1051/apido:19900402&Itemid=129
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

Drones of Apis dorsata had an average of 2.46·106 spermatozoa in their vesiculae seminales. Two queens had 3.67·106 spermatozoa in their spermathecae. In A adreniformis, drones had an average of 0.13·106 and the spermathecae of 2 queens contained 0.98 and 1.09·106 spermatozoa. In both A dorsata and A andreniformis the spermathecae of queens contained more spermatozoa than the vesiculae seminales of a single drone of either species. Therefore, we conclude that multiple mating occurs in both species as is the case for A mellifera, A cerana and A florea.