Sex bee

He is entirely expendable after he provides this service to the colony. Honeybee sex occurs in mid-air when the queen flies out in search of mates, her one and only "nuptial flight. Eventually, a brave drone will make his move. The drone falls to the ground, where he dies soon after. The next drone removes the previous drone's endophallus and inserts his, mates, and then dies as well. During her one nuptial flight, the queen will mate with a dozen or more partners, leaving a trail of dead drones in her wake.

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An article by Nissen et al. This study demonstrates the application of reverse transcriptase PCR and RNA interference screens as genetic tools to better understand the regulation of transcription and splicing. It also provides the opportunity to explore the evolutionary origins of genes by considering the functions of orthologs and paralogs in different species. This Primer article provides background information and explanations of the concepts and findings of Nissen et al. Genetics —

With less than a one percent chance of successful reproduction, and a percent chance of dying after mating, male honeybees have it tough. But recent evidence suggests that human activity—including land development, electromagnetic pollution, and use of neonicotinoid pesticides—is making it even harder for honeybees to reproduce, to the peril of the species. Every spring these males, also known as drones, fly out to congregation areas, mid-air ballrooms where thousands of young bees gather from miles around to show their stuff. Each seeks to mate with a virgin queen, a week-old female destined from birth to found her own hive. Queens can lay 2, eggs on a good day.