Apidologie 21 (1990) 281-286
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19900402

Numbers of spermatozoa in queens and drones indicate multiple mating of queens in Apis andreniformis and Apis dorsata

G. Koeniger^a, N. Koeniger^a, M. Mardan^b, R.W.K. Punchihewa^c and G.W. Otis<sup>b

a</sup>  Institut für Bienenkunde, Polytechnische Gesellschaft; FB Biologie an der JW Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, K-v-Frisch-Weg 2, D-6370 Oberursel, FRG
^b  Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Department of Plant Protection, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
^c  Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Station, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka

Abstract - Drones of Apis dorsata had an average of 2.46·10⁶ spermatozoa in their vesiculae seminales. Two queens had 3.67·10⁶ spermatozoa in their spermathecae. In A adreniformis, drones had an average of 0.13·10⁶ and the spermathecae of 2 queens contained 0.98 and 1.09·10⁶ spermatozoa. In both A dorsata and A andreniformis the spermathecae of queens contained more spermatozoa than the vesiculae seminales of a single drone of either species. Therefore, we conclude that multiple mating occurs in both species as is the case for A mellifera, A cerana and A florea.

Key words: multiple mating / spermatozoon / Apis andreniformis / Apis dorsata