Final answer:
Honeybees use a polyandrous mating system, with the queen mating with multiple drones. Polygyny, involving one male and multiple females, is observed in many other species, such as the sage grouse with lek mating. Monogamy and promiscuity are mating systems involving one-to-one pairings and non-exclusive multiple matings, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mating system employed by honeybees is polyandry. In this system, a single queen honeybee mates with multiple male bees, known as drones. The queen stores the sperm from several drones in her spermatheca and uses it throughout her life to fertilize eggs. This strategy of multiple mating, or polyandry, facilitates genetic diversity within the hive, which can be beneficial for the colony's survival in changing environments.
Polygyny is another mating system where one male mates with multiple females. Resources-based polygyny, lek mating, and harem structures represent different forms of this system. For instance, in the lek system, which is employed by the greater sage grouse, one male mates with many females that choose their mate based on displays in a communal courting area.
In contrast, monogamy involves one male mating with one female, while promiscuity implies a lack of any strong pair bonds or lasting relationships, with members of one sex mating with multiple members of the opposite sex without exclusivity.