Population genetics of social hymenoptera with worker produced males

Abstract

In many social Hymenoptera, particularly the bees and wasps, a proportion, ψ, of the males are produced by the workers. Using deterministic theory for a single 'ocus it is shown that having worker produced males affects the speed of approach to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the equilibrium gene frequency under mutation with counter-selection, the speed of elimination of a deleterious allele and the rate of advance of an advantageous gene. Equilibrium gene frequencies of a balanced polymorphism are shifted by a positive value of ψ if there are differences between the male viabilities. For certain male and female viabilities polymorphisms can either be extinguished or generated by having worker produced males. The approach to linkage equilibrium at two loci is either accelerated or retarded, though by not very much, depending on the value of, ψ, and the recombination rate. © 1980 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.