Drone Development, Biology, and And Interaction With The Queen in Apis mellifera

Abstract

Drone honey bees develop from haploid/unfertilized/diploid eggs produced by parthenogenesis or from fertilized eggs having identical sex alleles, formed after sexual reproduction, with more probability when the queen mates with drones of the same hives. Nurse bees generally remove diploid drone larvae due to cannibalism hormones secreted by developing larvae. Further, the development of drones is influenced by colony temperature, hence can be completed within 24-25 days. Queen attracts drone honey bees toward herself with pheromones9-ODA,9-HAD and 10 HDA. Drone number depends upon the colony's environmental conditions and available food to the colony. The specific chapter provides deep insight into the development of drones, the biology of drones, the reproductive system and the mating behaviour of particular castes.

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