SUMMARY QUANTIFICATION OF 9-OXO-DECENOIC ACID IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE CAPE HONEYBEE (APIS MELLIFERA CAPENSIS ESCHOLTZ)9-oxo-decenoic acid was quantified by a new, direct gaschromatographic analysis. Single newly emerged Cape honeybee workers were kept together each with 70-80 young workers of Apis mellifera carnica in small cages. The Cape bees started with oviposition on the 8th and 9th day under these conditions. 9-OD was found in 78 % of all Cape workers in the experiments. The first occurrence of 9-OD was noticed on the fourth day (after emergence) and the quantity of 9-OD increased with the age. On the 10th day an average of 50 p g 9-OD and on the 80th day 300hg 9-OD per worker were found.Both, 9-OD production and oviposition were observed in 79 workers, while 8 worker bees had no 9-OD though they layed eggs. 12 out of 18 bees, which did not oviposit, produced 9-OD. So oviposition and 9-OD production are not directly correlated. ZUSAMMENFASSUNGMit Hilfe einer neuen direkten gaschromatographischen Methode wurde die 9-Oxodecensäure (9-OD) quantitativ bestimmt.

Summary — Homozygous cordovan queens (Apis mellifera carnica) were inseminated by dark (+) and by brown (cd) drones (A. m. carnica) and kept in colonies of dark Carniolan workers Sealed brood out of these colonies was transferred into an incubator until emergence. Among the offspring of 3 colonies, some dark drones were found. In a second experiment, the same queens were introduced into colonies consisting entirely of yellow Italian workers (A. m. ligustica). Again dark drones were found among the progeny. Therefore, we conclude that these drones originated from the nucieus of a sperm. This mechanism of drone development in Apis mellifera is reported for the first time.