Queen bees: how to recognize them

What is a Queen Bee?

The queen bee is the queen of the hive, and is essential for the existence of the colony. The queen bee is the only fertile female that is placed inside the hive and can live up to five years, although most queen bees are replaced every year. Her main function is to pollinate plants and produce a powerful substance called pheromone which keeps insects together in the hive. During the life cycle, the queen bee mates with some males (called drones) during a nuptial flight, then returns to the apiary to lay up to 1,500/2,000 eggs per day in specialized formations. Her death would mean the end of the entire hive, which is why farmers engaged in beekeeping often keep a close watch on their bees.

How to Recognize a Queen Bee?

A queen bee is a fairly large bee, and can be easily distinguished from other insects by its appearance. The first characteristic that is noticed is the size: the queen bee is bigger than the other bees, and has a more robust body. Another characteristic that can help recognize the queen bee is the color: it is usually dark brown with light spots on the chest, and has a black and white striped pattern on the chest. Also, its wings are usually larger than in other insects. Finally, queen bees also have two very small bumps on their heads called ocelli. While some may mistake her for a bumblebee or even a bluebottle, with these physical traits a queen bee can easily be identified.

The Life Cycle of a Queen Bee

The queen bee is one of the most important creatures in the ecosystem. To feed the colony, the queen bee must go through several life stages before reaching maturity. The life cycle begins with the hatching of the Queen bee, which is produced by a queen bee egg placed in a comb by the master. Once produced, the Queen Bee will become the leader of the colony and will take care of raising all the other members. During the first days of her life, the Queen Bee will feed on the "royal nectar" generated by worker bees specialized in the production of nutritional liquid for the queen bees. The royal nectar contained in the queen bee's stomach will provide enough energy for her to survive until she is mature enough to start laying her own eggs and create new worker bees and male soldier bees in the nest. Once it reaches maturity, the queen bee has an average life cycle ranging from about 3-5 years depending on the type of bee and the habitat in which it lives. During this period it will transport hundreds of eggs inside the honeycomb every day, making sure that the bad guys in the colony always remain well fed and equipped with everything necessary for the survival of the colony itself. At the end of her life cycle, the old queen bee will be replaced by a new individual who will take her place as the main leader of the next colony.

The Lifespan of a Queen Bee

The lifespan of a queen bee can vary between species, but on average a queen bee lives for about 2-5 years. Upon hatching, the queen bee is already fully developed and preparing for her main mission: the creation of new colonies. Through the brooding process, the queen bee lays hundreds or even thousands of eggs in existing combs or natural cavities. During this period, the queen bee will deposit hundreds of eggs a day and the time required for hatching varies from four to six weeks. After reaching the peak of egg production, queen bees will begin to gradually decline to the point where no more new bees are produced. A dead queen bee is replaced by a new bee that will take her place as leader in the colony.

Conclusion: Tips for Recognizing a Queen Bee

The queen bee is an important figure within a beehive. She is the founder of the colony and remains there for her entire life. The queen bee may look similar to other insects, but there are a few tips you can follow to recognize her. First, the queen looks bigger than the worker bees she has around her. Also, she has longer wings and moves in a slow and elegant manner. You will also notice that her fertilizations are black and speckled with white spots. Finally, the queen emits a peculiar smell when she flies from the hive in search of flowers to pollinate. By following these suggestions, you should be able to easily recognize a Queen bee in your hive.