All worker bees are what gender?

All worker bees are what gender?

• A. Females
• B. Males
• C. Queens
• D. Drones

Answer: (A)

Worker bees are female because the worker caste develops from fertilized eggs, making them diploid females. Drones, the males, come from unfertilized eggs, and queens are another female reproductive role. So inside a honey bee colony, the workers are all female, even though they are usually non-reproductive and perform tasks to support the hive. This pattern—fertilized eggs becoming females and unfertilized eggs becoming males—is the basis for their distinct sexes.

Worker bees are female because the worker caste develops from fertilized eggs, making them diploid females. Drones, the males, come from unfertilized eggs, and queens are another female reproductive role. So inside a honey bee colony, the workers are all female, even though they are usually non-reproductive and perform tasks to support the hive. This pattern—fertilized eggs becoming females and unfertilized eggs becoming males—is the basis for their distinct sexes.