My research focuses on the mating event in honeybees, especially on the function of the different parts of the endophallus of the drone during mating. In honeybees, the females mate with several males (up to 50), because they profit from a large sperm supply to create a big colony. Males on the other hand try to monopolize the females they mate with, to ensure a great share in the paternity over the female's offspring. The endophallus of the drones is a complex structure equipped with several glands. During copulation, the endophallus is expelled inside the female body and turned inside out. This will cost a lot of energy, resulting in the death of the drone after mating. The drone will leave a part of the endophallus in the queen, called the mating sign.

During my research, I will use a variety of different techniques: histological sectioning (light microscopy and electron microscopy), histochemistry…

Moors L. & Billen J. (2007) Morphology of the cervical lobe of the endophallus in Apis mellifera drones. Apidologie 38: 579-583.

Moors L., Spaas O., Koeniger G. & Billen J. (2005) Morphological and ultrastructural changes in the mucus glands in Apis mellifera drones during pupal development and sexual maturation. Apidologie 36: 245-254.