Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Christelle Langenau on 23/06/2010 10:30:02

Title: How can subspecies of bee combine?
Post by: Christelle Langenau on 23/06/2010 10:30:02

Christelle Langenau asked the Naked Scientists:
   
With South Africa having two different bee subspecies, (Apis mellifera scutellata) and (Apis mellifera capensis)an experiment went wrong that we commonly refer to as pseudo-capensis; scientists have mentioned Parthenogenesis as a reason for this occurrence.

I hypothesise that this is a  drone showing signs of transvestitism or  Queen envy and is able to replicate more Queen-like laying drone offspring due to the higher than normal hormonal pheromone that the pseudo Capensis drone has over the normal Scutellata worker?

Scientists have not conclusively given any answers to this occurrence when the two subspecies were mixed.

Am I on the right track?   

What do you think?