Is the queen bee haploid or diploid?

The queen bee is diploid, which means she has two sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent. In honeybee colonies, the queen is the only reproductive female and produces diploid eggs. These eggs develop into female worker bees (diploid) if fertilized by a male drone (haploid), while unfertilized eggs develop into drones (haploid). This diploid nature of the queen is essential for maintaining the genetic diversity and strength of the colony.

In contrast, haploid organisms carry only one set of chromosomes, which is the case for drones. The triploid and hexaploid options are not applicable to the genetic makeup of bees, as they do not represent the correct chromosome configurations found in bees. The diploid status of the queen is significant for her role in the colony, ensuring that she can produce a variety of offspring through both fertilized and unfertilized eggs.