IN VITRO SPERMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN DRONES

Honey bees are an indispensable element of the ecosystem, as they provide an important part of plant pollination beyond food production. The queen bee, which forms the core of the bee colony, is at the center of bee production in the beekeeping sector. Undoubtedly, the production of high-quality queen bees primarily depends on suitable drones and therefore, quality sperm. In addition, artificial insemination of queen bees is a successful production method, as in other species, due to its superior characteristics compared to natural mating. In many apiaries and research centers, artificial insemination is used routinely for queen production. One of the advantages of this method is that the sperm can be preserved for the short or long term. In this respect, it is very effective in protecting genetic resources, preventing bee diseases and facilitating bee transportation. Today, spermatological studies and parameters used in drones are very few compared to other species. With the increasing importance given to the subject in recent years, many spermatological parameters have started to be used in honey bees. However, the morphological and physiological differences of drone semen require the development and standardization of these parameters with further studies. In this review, the spermatological parameters used in drone semen, together with the working principles and materials used, were examined in general terms and presented to the readers.