What is the queen bee's fertility status relative to other bees?

• A. She is the only bee that is fertile
• B. She is the queen but not a worker
• C. She is the worker bee who collects pollen
• D. She is the nurse bee

Answer: (A)

In a honeybee colony, the queen is the primary reproductive female. She mates and stores sperm so she can lay fertilized eggs, which develop into workers or new queens, while unfertilized eggs become drones. Workers, the other female bees, are typically sterile and do not perform egg-laying under normal conditions. Because of this, the queen is the only bee that is fertile in the colony, making that statement the best description of her fertility relative to the others. The other options describe the queen’s role or the tasks of workers, but they don’t capture the fertility difference.