Egg Weight Variability and its Inheritance in the Honey Bee

Abstract

Eggs obtained from 75 honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queens were individually weighed. The average weight obtained from samples of 15 eggs ranged from 0.1207 to 0.2157 mg. in three different inbred lines. Hybrid crosses between high- and low-weight lines resulted in an intermediate egg weight with no apparent heterosis. Although weight variation is largely genetically controlled, evidence indicates that environmental factors contribute to total variability.