<P> Another consequence is that hymenopterans may be more resistant to the deleterious effects of inbreeding . As males are haploid, any recessive genes will automatically be expressed, exposing them to natural selection . Thus, the genetic load of deleterious genes is purged relatively quickly . </P> <P> Some hymenopterans take advantage of parthenogenesis, the creation of embryos without fertilization . Thelytoky is a particular form of parthenogenesis in which female embryos are created (without fertilisation). The form of thelytoky in hymenopterans is a kind of automixis in which two haploid products (proto - eggs) from the same meiosis fuse to form a diploid zygote . This process tends to maintain heterozygosity in the passage of the genome from mother to daughter . It is found in several ant species including the desert ant Cataglyphis cursor, the clonal raider ant Cerapachys biroi, the predaceous ant Platythyrea punctata, and the electric ant (little fire ant) Wasmannia auropunctata . It also occurs in the Cape honey bee Apis mellifera capensis . </P> <P> Oocytes that undergo automixis with central fusion often have a reduced rate of crossover recombination, which helps to maintain heterozygosity and avoid inbreeding depression . Species that display central fusion with reduced recombination include the ants Platythyrea punctata and Wasmannia auropunctata and the honey bee Apis mellifera capensis . In A. m. capensis, the recombination rate during meiosis is reduced more than 10-fold . In W. auropunctata the reduction is 45-fold . </P> <P> Single queen colonies of the narrow headed ant Formica exsecta illustrate the possible deleterious effects of increased homozygosity . In this ant, colonies with more homozygous queens age more rapidly . The result is reduced colony survival . </P>

How are eggs deposited in the aculeate hymenoptera