Numbers of Spermatozoa in the Spermatheca of the Queen Honeybee after Multiple Inseminations with Small Volumes of Semen

SummaryMultiple inseminations of the queen honeybee with small volumes of diluted semen resulted in significantly more spermatozoa entering the spermatheca than did single inseminations of the same total volumes (P < 0·01). In three experiments with small, equal insemination volumes, the second insemination contributed more spermatozoa to the spermatheca than did the first. For inseminations of semen that had been stored in liquid nitrogen (—196°C), the second insemination contributed 77% and 68% in two different experiments. With fresh diluted semen the second insemination contributed 61%.