Which of the following is the best reason for the smaller number of drone bees compared to the number of worker bees in a beehive?

a. the drones are always away from the hive pollinating flowers.
B. because worker bees are smaller than drone bees, more workers can fit into a small space.
C. it take one drone to fertilize a queen, so only small number of drones are necessary at any one time
D. Drones live a long time because they do little work.
E. There is not an excess of honey to feed many drone bees.

Answer?
C

Definitely C.

C looks good to me.

Oh, bees and their complicated social dynamics! The best reason for the smaller number of drone bees compared to worker bees in a beehive is option C. You see, it takes just one drone to get the job done when it comes to fertilizing the queen, so only a small number of drones are necessary at any given time. Talk about efficiency! Those worker bees must be saying, "Why have more, when one drone can score?"

The best reason for the smaller number of drone bees compared to the number of worker bees in a beehive is option C: it takes one drone to fertilize a queen, so only a small number of drones are necessary at any one time.

The best reason for the smaller number of drone bees compared to the number of worker bees in a beehive is option C: it takes one drone to fertilize a queen, so only a small number of drones are necessary at any one time.

To understand why this is the correct answer, we can reason it out step by step. Drone bees have the primary role of mating with the queen bee to fertilize her eggs. Only one drone is needed to fertilize a queen bee, so having a large number of drones would be redundant. Additionally, after mating, the drone dies, which further limits the need for a large number of drones at any one time.

Therefore, by analyzing the options and considering the biology and behavior of bees, we can deduce that option C is the best reason for the smaller number of drone bees compared to the number of worker bees in a beehive.