THE EFFECTS OF DRONE AGE, SEMEN STORAGE AND CONTAMINATION ON SEMEN QUALITY IN THE HONEY-BEE (APIS-MELLIFERA)

The effect of semen storage time, drone age and semen contamination on honey bee semen quality was investigated using assays for motility an d viability of semen in vitro. Four age groups (1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks) a nd five storage times (0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks) were examined. As stora ge time increased, sperm viability and motility significantly decrease d. However, motility patterns of unstored semen samples were significa ntly lower than those samples that were stored up to 2 weeks. Sperm vi ability decreased significantly with increasing drone age, but motilit y patterns did not change. Those semen samples that were found to be c ontaminated with foreign particles or microorganisms had a significant ly lower mean viability than uncontaminated samples.