How is sex determined in honey bees?

In honey bees, the determination of sex occurs based on whether the egg is fertilized or unfertilized. Fertilized eggs develop into female bees, which include both worker bees and queens. In contrast, unfertilized eggs develop into male bees, known as drones. This unique reproductive strategy is part of a system called haplodiploidy, which is characteristic of many hymenopterans. The queen, by selectively mating with drones, controls the fertilization of eggs, thereby influencing the composition of the colony.

The size of the egg is not a determining factor for sex; all eggs are approximately the same size regardless of their fertilization status. The location of the nest does not influence sex determination either, nor does the season of the year; these factors may affect other aspects of bee behavior or colony dynamics but not the biological sex of the bees themselves. Understanding this mechanism is essential for beekeeping practices, as it directly impacts colony population and management strategies.