How Does a Bee Develop?

Before a new adult bee emerges, a development process takes place inside the cells of the honeycomb. All bees go through the stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Understanding this cycle helps explain many of the phenomena observed during an inspection and makes it easier to interpret records kept over time.

Each new bee begins its life as an egg laid by the queen inside a honeycomb cell. During the first few days, the egg develops into a larva. At this stage, adult bees dedicate much of their work to caring for the next generation, providing food and maintaining the necessary conditions for their development.

As it grows, the larva changes in appearance and rapidly increases in size. When the time is right, the cell is sealed with a layer of wax, becoming known as capped brood. Inside this protected cell, a profound transformation occurs, during which the larva develops into a pupa and eventually into an adult bee.

After completing this development, the new bee breaks the cap of the cell and emerges to begin its life in the colony. From that moment on, it will perform specific roles based on its type and the needs of the community.

Although all bees go through these four stages, not all follow exactly the same path. The type of food received during the first few days, the cell in which they develop, and the origin of the egg contribute to determining whether the new bee will be a queen, a worker, or a drone. These differences will be explored in subsequent articles.

In beekeeping, the collective term for eggs, larvae, and pupae is usually brood. Observing its condition and distribution is one of the most important parts of an inspection, as it provides valuable information about the evolution and vitality of the colony.

Although all bees go through the same developmental stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult), the time required until emergence varies depending on the caste and species.

Apis mellifera

Meliponines (Stingless Bees)

In meliponines, there is no single developmental cycle applicable to all species. The times vary between genera and species and can be significantly different from those observed in Apis mellifera. For this reason, the wiki provides reference values in the fact sheets for each species, whenever published and consensus data are available.

Queens and workers develop from fertilized eggs. Despite sharing the same origin, differences in diet and developmental space lead to adult individuals with very distinct characteristics and functions. Drones, on the other hand, typically develop from unfertilized eggs.

During a visit, abelhas.eu allows you to record the presence of eggs, open brood, and capped brood, as well as other observations related to the colony's evolution. By maintaining a consistent history, it becomes easier to track changes over time and understand the natural dynamics of each colony.

If you observe brood with an unusual appearance, prolonged interruptions in egg-laying, dead brood, or persistent changes that you cannot interpret, seek support from a beekeeping technician or a veterinarian with experience in beekeeping. A specialized evaluation is essential before drawing conclusions about the colony's condition.

Understanding how a bee develops allows you to better interpret what you observe during an inspection. Many of the records kept in abelhas.eu, such as the presence of eggs, larvae, or capped brood, make sense when viewed as different stages of a single developmental process.

• What Is the Role of the Queen?
• How Is a Queen Bee Born?
• How Is a Worker Bee Born?
• How Is a Drone Bee Born?