Effect of above freezing temperatures on temporary storage of honeybee spermatozoa

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) semen was diluted 1 : 1 with saline and stored at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 35°C for 2 days, or was not stored (control). Each of 111 queens was inseminated with 4 ml of the diluted semen. The effects of storage temperatures were evaluated by counting the number of spermatozoa that entered the spermatheca. Mean counts were ≤3.1 x 10⁵ when spermatozoa were stored ≤ 10°C; storage at 20°C and 25°C resulted in the highest counts (mean = 1.4 x 10⁶). The response in millions of spermatozoa in the spermatheca (Y) to storage temperature between 10 and 25°C (X) was Y = -2.74 + 0.397X - 0.00935X² (r = 0.78, n= 34).