In honey bee colony drones are

Options

A. diploid males developed from fertilized eggs
B. haploid males developed from fertilized eggs
C. diploid males developed by parthenogenesis
D. haploid males developed by parthenogenesis

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Types of Bees in a Honey Bee Colony**:
- In a honey bee colony, there are three types of bees: the queen, drones, and worker bees.
- The queen is responsible for laying eggs, while drones and worker bees have different roles.

2. **Identifying the Ploidy of Each Type of Bee**:
- The queen bee is diploid (2N), meaning she has two sets of chromosomes. This allows her to undergo meiosis and produce eggs.
- Worker bees are also diploid (2N) and are sterile, performing various tasks in the hive.
- Drones, however, are haploid (N), meaning they have only one set of chromosomes.

3. **How Drones are Produced**:
- Drones are produced from unfertilized eggs laid by the queen. This process is known as parthenogenesis, where an egg develops without fertilization.
- Since drones come from unfertilized eggs, they are haploid.

4. **Clarifying the Options Given in the Question**:
- The question provides four options regarding the nature of drones:
1. Diploid males from fertilized eggs – Incorrect, as drones are haploid.
2. Haploid males from fertilized eggs – Incorrect, as drones come from unfertilized eggs.
3. Diploid males developed from parthenogenesis – Incorrect, as drones are not diploid.
4. Haploid males developed from parthenogenesis – Correct, as drones are indeed haploid and arise from unfertilized eggs.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer to the question is that drones are haploid males developed from parthenogenesis.