Final answer:
Sex in most ants and bees is determined by the number of chromosomes, with fertilized eggs (diploid) developing into females and unfertilized eggs (haploid) developing into males.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most ants and bees, sex determination is conducted through a haplodiploid system, which differs from the systems used by mammals and birds. For these insects, sex is determined by the number of chromosomes an individual has. Fertilized eggs, which have two sets of chromosomes (diploid), develop into females, while unfertilized eggs, which have only one set of chromosomes (haploid), develop into males. This system of sex determination is unique compared to the X-Y system in mammals, where females are XX and males are XY, and the Z-W system used by birds, where females are ZW and males are ZZ.
Sex in most ants and bees is determined by the presence of different sex chromosomes, known as the Z-W system. In this system, females are heterozygous for the sex chromosomes (ZW), while males are homozygous (ZZ). The presence of the W chromosome is essential in determining female sex, similar to the Y chromosome in mammals. This system is also used by some fish, crustaceans, insects like butterflies and moths, and reptiles.