The Effects of Various Foods and Temperatures on Sexual Maturity of the Drone Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)1

A study of sexual maturity of the drone honey bee was made to learn reasons for differences in maturity among drones of equal age. Maturity of the drones was judged by the number of spermatozoa in the seminal vesicles and vasa deferentia as determined by an improved counting technique. At 93° F., drones caged without worker bees attained maturity at about the same rate and to the same level as those allowed free flight or caged in a nursery colony. Drone maturity was retarded slightly at 88° F. and seriously at 83° F. At the highest temperature the drones matured normally when fed honey syrup containing pollen or royal jelly (4 percent by weight) or on plain syrup. The retarding effect of the 83° temperature appeared to be offset in part by the presence of royal jelly in the diet.