Why Queen Bees are So Darned Promiscuous
by Corey Binns
Seeking extra mates costs a promiscuous queen honeybee energy and time, and it puts her at greater risk of predation and catching venereal diseases. But it doesn't stop her.
For a healthier hive, the queens have sex with multiple males, according to a new study. While one male drone provides all the sperm a queen needs to be fully inseminated, she'll mate with a dozen or more.
So why is this wanton behavior worth the hazards?
"Evidently, one important reason is to generate diverse offspring, something that produces a colony that has higher disease resistance than a colony with offspring from just one father," said Cornell University biologist Thomas Seeley.
Seeley and North Carolina State University entomologist David Tarpy found that a colony fathered by more than one male was better equipped to fight off the infectious American foulbrood disease.
Yeah, it's good for the hive....that's my answer too.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Isn't tomorrow your national orgasm day for world peace or something?
Shouldn't you be getting ready?
BostonMaggie, You’ve been Christmas tagged!
http://762justice.com/2006/12/22/christmas-meme/
Baby! I am always ready!
OK, I took care of your meme!
Post a Comment