BEE PRACTICAL FINAL ASSESSMENT
Draw and describe the structures that may contribute to a drone’s mating success.
When coming into contact with the queen, the drones’ hind legs attach to the queen’s abdomen from behind. The drone then inserts his endophallus into the queen’s abdomen which allows sperm from the male to flow into the queen, allowing insemination (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991). The secretions from the drones cornua increases the attachment between drone and queen (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991), facilitating the passage of sperm into the queen. After copulation, the drones’ endophallus everts, leaving a mating signal for other drones to enhance the attractiveness of the queen (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991)
Discuss how drones locate the DCA, find the queens within the DCA and compete with other males for mating. Discuss how their physical attributes help them compete.
LOCATING THE DCA
During mating season, drones would fly to drone congregation areas without the presence of queens in them (Koeniger, 1990). When a queen flies into a DCA, drones are able …show more content…
There is often mating with multiple partners for the production of offspring. Lek mating allows a diverse genetic pool to be generated, enhancing a population’s ability to survive and adapt to changes in the environment. It decreases the chances of pathogens and predators to decrease the working ability and efficiency of a population, and hence facilitate the survival and reproduction of the species (Koeniger, 1990). For example, if a drone was immune to a particular pathogen, or able to outcompete other drones for resources, it would be able to survive and continue to reproduce and contribute its successful genes to the colony. While others who did not have the advantageous genetics, would die off and not be able to reproduce and contribute their inadequate genes to the next generations’ gene
Draw and describe the structures that may contribute to a drone’s mating success.
When coming into contact with the queen, the drones’ hind legs attach to the queen’s abdomen from behind. The drone then inserts his endophallus into the queen’s abdomen which allows sperm from the male to flow into the queen, allowing insemination (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991). The secretions from the drones cornua increases the attachment between drone and queen (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991), facilitating the passage of sperm into the queen. After copulation, the drones’ endophallus everts, leaving a mating signal for other drones to enhance the attractiveness of the queen (Koeniger & Koeniger, 1991)
Discuss how drones locate the DCA, find the queens within the DCA and compete with other males for mating. Discuss how their physical attributes help them compete.
LOCATING THE DCA
During mating season, drones would fly to drone congregation areas without the presence of queens in them (Koeniger, 1990). When a queen flies into a DCA, drones are able …show more content…
There is often mating with multiple partners for the production of offspring. Lek mating allows a diverse genetic pool to be generated, enhancing a population’s ability to survive and adapt to changes in the environment. It decreases the chances of pathogens and predators to decrease the working ability and efficiency of a population, and hence facilitate the survival and reproduction of the species (Koeniger, 1990). For example, if a drone was immune to a particular pathogen, or able to outcompete other drones for resources, it would be able to survive and continue to reproduce and contribute its successful genes to the colony. While others who did not have the advantageous genetics, would die off and not be able to reproduce and contribute their inadequate genes to the next generations’ gene