| The Queen |
 |
A queen can live up to five years.
Although the queen is the largest member of the colony, she has short wings that extend
only half way down her body. She may only fly twice during her lifetime; to mate and to
swarm.
When a queen is nine days old, she goes on her mating flight. During this flight, which
occurs only once during her lifetime, she may mate with several drones. The spermatozoa is
stored in the queen's reproductive storage sac and is released to fertilize eggs
throughout the queen's life. Fertilized eggs produce females (workers). To produce males
(drones), the queen does not release spermatozoa from her storage sac. Eggs are deposited
into cells which develop into worker, drone or queen bees.
The queen controls the population of the colony. When food sources are in short supply,
she reduces her production of eggs. If the colony becomes too large and the hive is
overcrowded, the queen stops laying her eggs and leaves the hive. Half of the colony will
swarm with the queen in search of a new home. The remaining bees await the emergence of a
new queen from her cell.
The queen has a scent which is passed on to every member of the colony. The queen's
courtiers pick up the scent while licking and grooming her. The scent is then passed on,
mouth to mouth, to the workers who continue passing on the scent. Upon receiving the
scent, the workers know that the queen and the colony are well. The queen's scent also
serves to attract drones during her mating flight.
The queen can also communicate by making different sounds. When she is ready to leave her
cell, a queen quacks a message to the colony, letting all know that she is soon to emerge.
The queen also makes a piping sound. This is done to challenge new virgin queens and to
serve as a defence when the queen is attacked by workers. Both quacking and vibrating
sounds are made by vibrating the wing plates at the base of the wings.
| The Drone |
 |
The drone (male) is not as large as the
queen, although his wings are longer and stronger. The drone's function is to mate
"on the wing" with the queen during her mating flight. After mating, the drone
dies. If mating is not successful, a drone can live for up to 90 days.
The drone also has a personal scent that he uses to communicate his needs. Scent is used
to invite drones from other nests to congregate in a selected area in the air. Queens on
their mating flights are attracted by the scent of the drone.
Drones make a deep, loud buzzing sound to announce their presence. This sound is made by
vibrating the wings.
Drones do not leave the nest to forage and do not feed themselves. By using their sense of
touch, drones are able to communicate to worker bees their need for food.
| The Worker |
 |
The worker is the smallest member of the
colony. During her 35+ day life, she plays many roles, performing tasks that assure the
efficiency and productivity of the hive.
Life of the Worker
Young bee (0-5 days)
The young bee first begs food from older worker bees, then cleans the empty cells so that
they can be used by the queen to deposit eggs. The queen will not lay eggs in cells that
are not clean. The young worker bee warms and later stocks the cells of older larvae with
pollen (bee bread).
Nurse bee (5-10 days)
The worker's pharyngeal gland are fully developed and she begins to produce royal jelly.
This high protein substance is fed to young worker and drone larvae and to the queen
larvae.
Building bee (10-15 days)
The worker produces wax to build combs and to cap cells. During this stage, she will also
store pollen and nectar, cool and warm the hive, remove dead bees, feed the queen and
drones and perform other hive duties.
Guard bee (15-20 days)
Poison glands are developed and the worker guards the hive entrance against enemies and
worker bees from other colonies.
Honey-making field bee (20-35 days)
The worker's flight muscles are fully developed and she is capable of converting nectar
into honey. She is attracted to light and goes on foraging flights. She collects nectar,
pollen, water and propolis. She will work with propolis in the hive converting it to bee
glue.
*The ages provided are flexible and not all behaviors are included. Workers may exhibit
several behaviors on the same day.
*Courtesy of the National Honey Board *
