Honeybee Stages of Development

The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is a eusocial insect whose development is tightly regulated by nutrition and social organization within the colony. Honey bees undergo complete metamorphosis, progressing through four life stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult. 

Although all individuals originate from eggs laid by the queen, differences in larval nutrition determine whether a bee becomes a worker, queen, or drone. Research consistently emphasize that nutrition during early development is the key factor driving caste differentiation and colony health (Ellis et al., 2013; Seeley, 2019; University of Montana Beekeeping Program, n.d.).

Development begins when the queen lays a single egg into a wax brood cell. Fertilized eggs develop into females, which may become workers or queens, while unfertilized eggs develop into males, or drones. The egg stage lasts approximately three days and requires no external nutrition, as the embryo relies entirely on yolk reserves for early development (Ellis et al., 2013; Seeley, 2019).

After hatching, the bee enters the larval stage, the most nutritionally significant phase of development. Larvae are legless, soft-bodied, and grow rapidly, increasing their mass many times over in a matter of days. Nurse bees feed larvae continuously with brood food secreted from specialized glands. For the first several days, all larvae receive royal jelly, a protein-rich substance containing carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and essential amino acids. University of Florida researchers note that royal jelly supports rapid growth and plays a critical role in hormonal and immune development (Ellis et al., 2013).

Caste determination occurs during the larval stage and is driven almost entirely by diet. Larvae destined to become queens are fed royal jelly exclusively throughout their entire larval development. This continuous, nutrient-dense diet triggers physiological and epigenetic changes that result in fully developed ovaries, larger body size, and extended lifespan. In contrast, larvae that become workers receive royal jelly only during the first three days and are then transitioned to a diet of worker jelly and bee bread, a fermented mixture of pollen and honey. This dietary shift limits reproductive development and produces sterile workers (Seeley, 2019). Drone larvae, which develop from unfertilized eggs, receive a diet similar to worker larvae but grow larger due to their reproductive role (Ellis et al., 2013).

At the end of the larval stage, worker bees cap the brood cell with wax, initiating the pupal stage. During pupation, the larva undergoes complete internal reorganization as larval tissues are transformed into adult structures such as wings, legs, eyes, and antennae. No feeding occurs during this stage; the pupa relies entirely on nutritional reserves accumulated during larval feeding. Queens complete pupation in about seven to eight days, workers in about twelve days, and drones in fourteen to fifteen days, resulting in total development times of approximately sixteen, twenty-one, and twenty-four days, respectively (Ellis et al., 2013; Seeley, 2019).

After emerging as adults, nutritional needs vary by caste. Queens continue to be fed royal jelly by worker attendants to support egg production. Workers consume nectar or honey for carbohydrates and pollen for protein and lipids, which are essential for gland development and immune function. University of Montana–affiliated beekeeping education programs emphasize that pollen diversity is critical for worker health and colony resilience (University of Montana Beekeeping Program, n.d.). Drones rely entirely on workers for food and consume honey and pollen to support flight and reproduction.

The development of Apis mellifera is a highly coordinated process shaped by nutrition, timing, and social regulation. From egg to adult, each stage depends on the quality and quantity of food provided by the colony, with larval nutrition playing the central role in determining caste, physiology, and function. Understanding this process is essential for effective beekeeping and pollinator conservation.

References

Ellis, J. D., Graham, J. R., & Mortensen, A. (2013). The basic biology of the honey bee. University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory.

Seeley, T. D. (2019). Honey bee biology and behavior. Cornell University, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior.

University of Montana Beekeeping Program. (n.d.). Introduction to honey bee biology and colony development. University of Montana Extension and Outreach.