Numbers of spermatozoa in spermathecae of queens aged 0 to 3 years reared in Beaverlodge, Alberta

Queen honeybees (Apis mellifera) were reared under optimal conditions between 1982 and 1985. Mean weight of queens at emergence was 213 ± 2.02 mg. At initiation of oviposition (designated 0 years) and after 1, 2 and 3 years in honey producing colonies, mean numbers of spermatozoa in spermathecae were 9.77 ± 0.79, 7.63 ± 0.85, 5.57 ± 0.64 and 2.08 ± 0.62 million, respectively; numbers declined logarithmically with age of the queen. Annual requeening of colonies may be unnecessary, if efforts are made to produce queens of the highest quality.