General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Let me tell you about Women [View all]MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Bees, wasps, hornets, and ants are all members of the hymenoptera order.
The genotypical sexual expression in the hymenoptera order is dependent upon the number of chromosones. Those with female sexual expression are diploid and those with male sexual expression are haploid. This means that females are born from fertilized eggs where one set of chromosones come from each parent while males are born from unfertilized eggs and have only the chromosones produced by the mother.
So in essence, males in the hymenoptera order are nothing more than sexual reproduction instruments of their mothers, allowing them to pass on only genetic material from their mother.
And now you have a bit of an understanding as to why the only fertile female in a hive filled with unfertile female workers is referred to as a "queen", while the males of the colony are nothing more than "drones".