The honeybee queen has the potential ability to regulate the primary sex ratio

Abstract

To determine whether the honeybee queen has the potential ability to decide the sex ratio of the eggs that are to be laid, experiments were carried out with special frames. The results showed that the queens selected either worker or drone cells and laid most eggs in worker cells, when queens were provided with both worker and drone cells, while the worker unpreferentially stayed on and prepared worker or drone cells by cleaning for the queen's oviposition. The queens were also observed changing the sex ratio of the eggs in drone and worker cells, with the ratio depending on the season. More eggs were laid in drone cells during the swarming season. The cues that queens use to determine the ratio of eggs in drone and worker cells are discussed.