Egg Hatch of Honey Bees Fertilized with Frozen Spermatozoa12

Abstract

Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) semen was diluted with water (or 0.85% NaCl) and dimethyl sulfoxide in a 6:3:1 ratio and stored in liquid nitrogen (–196° C). Queens inseminated with this semen produced a higher proportion of males (unfertilized eggs) and a lower egg hatching rate than control queens. Low hatching rates were associated with the fertilized eggs rather than with the unfertilized eggs within the test group. Egg hatching rates averaged 82±11% (x±SD) in test queens and 95±2% in controls.