Inside a beehive, three distinct types of bees work together to maintain colony health and survival: the queen bee, worker bees, and drone bees.

The Queen Bee

• Only fertile female in the colony
• Lays up to 2,000 eggs daily during peak seasons
• Lives several years (compared to weeks for other bees)
• Fed exclusively royal jelly
• Larger than other bees

Worker Bees

• Sterile females
• Perform multiple roles based on age:
  • Cleaning cells
  • Feeding larvae
  • Building honeycomb
  • Guarding the hive
  • Foraging for nectar and pollen
  • Producing honey
  • Climate control
• Live 4-6 weeks during active season

Drone Bees

• Male bees
• Primary purpose is mating with queens from other colonies
• Characteristics:
  • Larger eyes than workers
  • No stinger
  • Cannot collect nectar
  • Die after mating
• Present mainly during breeding season

Population Balance A healthy hive requires:

• One queen
• 20,000-60,000 worker bees
• Several hundred drones (during breeding season)

Regular monitoring helps maintain optimal colony strength. Too many drones strain resources, while insufficient workers compromise hive productivity. Beekeepers can manage population balance through:

• Regular inspections
• Removing excess drone comb
• Ensuring adequate food stores
• Maintaining proper hive conditions

A well-balanced hive produces more honey, better resists diseases, and has higher survival rates through winter months. Understanding these bee types and their roles is crucial for successful beekeeping and colony management.

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