How is the reproductive capability of a queen compared to a drone?

How is the reproductive capability of a queen compared to a drone?

• A. Queens can reproduce more frequently
• B. Drones reproduce independently
• C. Drones have longer reproductive periods
• D. Both have the same reproductive patterns

Answer: (A)

The reproductive capability of a queen bee is significantly higher than that of a drone bee. A queen can lay thousands of eggs daily during the peak season and is the sole egg-laying female in the hive, making her central to the colony's reproduction and population maintenance. In contrast, drones are male bees whose primary role is to mate with a queen, and they do not lay eggs at all. Drones do not reproduce independently; their sole function is to fly out of the hive during mating flights to mate with a queen from another colony. While drones are part of the reproductive cycle, they do not contribute to reproduction in the same sustained manner as a queen. Instead, their existence is limited to mating and they do not have a role in egg-laying or colony production. This difference in roles and capabilities clearly demonstrates why the queen's ability to reproduce is much more frequent and prolific compared to that of drones.

The reproductive capability of a queen bee is significantly higher than that of a drone bee. A queen can lay thousands of eggs daily during the peak season and is the sole egg-laying female in the hive, making her central to the colony's reproduction and population maintenance. In contrast, drones are male bees whose primary role is to mate with a queen, and they do not lay eggs at all. Drones do not reproduce independently; their sole function is to fly out of the hive during mating flights to mate with a queen from another colony.

While drones are part of the reproductive cycle, they do not contribute to reproduction in the same sustained manner as a queen. Instead, their existence is limited to mating and they do not have a role in egg-laying or colony production. This difference in roles and capabilities clearly demonstrates why the queen's ability to reproduce is much more frequent and prolific compared to that of drones.