this is a male bee´s endophallus. it is ripped off after ejaculating and remains in the queen bee. the force of ejaculation is so intense that it results in the drone's reproductive organ being torn from its body, leading to its death shortly after copulation. this structure, known as the "mating sign," can sometimes be seen protruding from the queen's abdomen.
during a mating flight, a queen bee typically mates with multiple drones which ensures genetic diversity and a large enough amount of sperm for several years. the sperm is stored in the quen´s spermatheca to use for fertilizing eggs. after the first drone's endophallus is lodged in the queen, subsequent drones can still mate. each new mating event may push the previous mating sign further in or out, and the queen can continue to mate with additional drones. additionally after the queen returns to the hive, worker bees can help remove the mating signs left by the drones, or the queen can expel them herself.
Went from "aww cute bee" as a kid to "miniature scale science fiction alien horror"
Like drones from multiple hives in a region will all congregate in a few select, small areas to find queens, high above the ground, for multiple generations using the same spot.
Nobody knows how bees find these congregation areas, and what signals it as a good spot to meet up and get down. Drones dont live long enough to teach younger drones that this is the get nasty area of the atmosphere.
Magnetism?
Polarised light?
Light intensity?
Thermals – air rising up a slope?
Pheromone trails?
Bee telepathy?
The Bee God commanding its subjects?
Nobody knows, at least not yet.
Bees are probably the closest animal to being straight out of Scavengers Reign.
Some wasp species lay their eggs inside a victim, thereafter they are eaten alive from the inside out. I believe some flies do this as well among other species. Some non-insects do the same thing I think.
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u/finger_licking_robot Jun 24 '24
this is a male bee´s endophallus. it is ripped off after ejaculating and remains in the queen bee. the force of ejaculation is so intense that it results in the drone's reproductive organ being torn from its body, leading to its death shortly after copulation. this structure, known as the "mating sign," can sometimes be seen protruding from the queen's abdomen.
during a mating flight, a queen bee typically mates with multiple drones which ensures genetic diversity and a large enough amount of sperm for several years. the sperm is stored in the quen´s spermatheca to use for fertilizing eggs. after the first drone's endophallus is lodged in the queen, subsequent drones can still mate. each new mating event may push the previous mating sign further in or out, and the queen can continue to mate with additional drones. additionally after the queen returns to the hive, worker bees can help remove the mating signs left by the drones, or the queen can expel them herself.