Mary Allen
Introduction: Understanding the Role of Queen Bees
Queen bees are an essential component of any honeybee colony. They are responsible for laying eggs, which hatch into worker bees and drones. Without a queen bee, the colony cannot survive, as worker bees are infertile and drones do not contribute much to the maintenance of the hive. Queen bees are unique in their ability to reproduce and are highly valued by beekeepers for this reason.
The Reproductive System of Queen Bees
Queen bees have specialized reproductive organs that allow them to lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. They have a larger and more complex reproductive system than worker bees, including larger ovaries and spermatheca. The spermatheca is a small sac in the queen’s abdomen that stores sperm from multiple mating flights, allowing her to fertilize eggs as she lays them over a period of several years. Queen bees also have a unique pheromone that suppresses the reproductive systems of worker bees, ensuring that they do not lay eggs and compete with the queen.