Abstract
Although Meliponini queens mate with only one male (monandry), Apini queens mate with ca. of 10 to 20 males (polyandry), probably a derived condition in the evolutionary history of the eussocial bees. This high number of matings implies high costs to the queens (e.g. risks of predation and injuries by males, energetic expenditure, etc.), although the benefits are not still completely unde…