186 
Beekeeping 
At the time of copulation, the penis, which is previously- 
folded within the abdomen of the drone, is everted and pro¬ 
jects into the vagina of the queen. The spermatozoa then 
pass through the ejaculatory duct as does presumably also 
the contents of the accessory mucous glands. The forma¬ 
tion of the spermatozoa has been studied by Meves, 1 by 
Mark and Copeland 2 and by Doncaster. 3 
The sudden expulsion of the penis causes the immediate 
death of the drone. The structure of the penis may be 
readily seen by gently squeezing the abdomen of a drone, 
by which means it is everted. In this case also the drone 
dies immediately so that his death at the time of mating 
should not be attributed to any action of the queen. As has 
been previously stated (p. 69), mating occurs in the air 
outside the hive. 
Parthenogenesis. 
The chief reason why the reproductive processes require 
extended discussion in a book on practical beekeeping is 
because of the development of the drones or males from 
unfertilized eggs. In most species, the sex cells disintegrate 
unless they unite with the products of the opposite sex of the 
same species, but there are numerous instances in the animal 
kingdom in which egg cells are produced, which, without 
fertilization, are able to develop into normal adults. To 
this phenomenon the name parthenogenesis 4 is given. 
1 Meves, Fr. f 1903. Ueber Richtungskorperbildung im Hoden von 
Hymenopteren. Anat. Anz., XXIV, pp. 29-32. 
- , 1907. Die Spermatocytenteilungen bei der Honigbiene (Apis 
mellifica L.) nebst Bemerkungen liber Chromatinreduction. Arch. f. Microsk. 
Anat. u. Entwick., LXX, pp. 414-491. 
2 Mark, E. L. and Copeland, Man ton, 1907. Some stages in the sper¬ 
matogenesis of the honey bee. Proc. Am. acad. arts and sciences, XLII, 
pp. 103-111. 
3 Doncaster, L., 1906. Spermatogenesis of the hive bee, Apis mellifica. 
Anat. Anz., XXIX. 
- , 1907. Spermatogenesis of the honey bee. Ibid., XXXI. 
4 For a more extended discussion, see Phillips, E. F., 1903. A review 
of parthenogenesis. Proc. Am. philos. soc., XLII, No. 174, pp. 275-345. 
