Relation of Semen Volume to Success in Artificial Insemination of Queen Honey Bees1

Abstract

Queens were inseminated with amounts of semen ranging from 2 to 36 μl and oviposition performance and number of sperm in the spermatheca evaluated. As amount of semen was increased, the number of sperm reaching the spermatheca increased, but the percentage decreased. After single inseminations of up to 18 μl, survival and oviposition were normal; but with higher amounts (20-36 μl) the death rate increased. At 28 to 36 μl oviposition was sometimes much reduced. with the same total amount of semen 2 inseminations were more effective than 1 and the minimum spermathecal sperm count was higher, but the second insemination contributed less than the first and this contribution deereased as the dose increased. In single inseminations 16 μl of semen was required to place an average of 5 million and a minimum of 3 million sperm in the spermatheca. Although this average was not quite reached with 2 inseminations of up to 6 μl each, a minimum of 3 million was attained with 2 inseminations of 3 μl each.