The Effect of Drying and Various Diluents on Spermatozoa of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.)1

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Abstract
Honey bee semen air dried 3, 6, and 9 minutes contained respectively 60%, 10%, and less than 1% motile spermatozoa after being stimulated with saline solution. Spermatozoa in semen diluted with several different saline solutions and stored at 35° C. in fine glass capillary tubes remained alive for 5 to 10 days. The stored semen was adversely affected by drying and bacterial growth. Undiluted semen kept at 35° C. in flame-sealed capillary tubes contained many actively motile spermatozoa after 22 days and a few motile spermatozoa after 34 days. A saline solution was found necessary to restore activity to the spermatozoa which, shortly after ejaculation, assumed a passive condition indistinguishable from death.