Lengths of Haploid and Diploid Spermatozoa of the Honeybee and the Question of the Production of Triploid Workers

SummaryAltogether the whole lengths of 3575 spermatozoa from 59 diploid and 84 haploid drones, and the lengths of the nuclei of 450 diploid and haploid spermatozoa, were compared.The shortest diploid spermatozoa were 15 μm longer than the longest haploid ones produced by drones originating from the same queen. The average length of diploid spermatozoa was 313 μm and that of haploid spermatozoa 242 μm.The head length of diploid spermatozoa averaged 7·4 μm and of haploids 4·8 μm. Thus length may be used to distinguish haploid from diploid spermatozoa, and consequently haploid from diploid drones.Reports of production of triploid worker bees are considered questionable.