The Worker Bee

The Worker Bee

There are thousands of bees in one hive and they have a wide range of different work in order to maintain growth. The worker bee is within the majority of the hive’s population. These worker bees are all females, as the majority of a hive is.
 
The lifespan of a worker bee is short, around six weeks during the most active parts of the year. This is when honey production is high. However, these bees do survive longer in the off months (rainy season); they can live up to eight months.
 
These smaller bees have a shorter abdomen; they fly out within three to four miles radius and bring pollen back to the hive. By utilizing pollen baskets on their hind legs, they accomplish their task. The worker bee is loaded with protein to help them survive the off seasons.
 
One would be surprised to learn the amount of work a worker bee does in its lifetime. Yet, all work is carried out as a team. Team work makes the dream work! Still, the working role of a bee changes as the bee ages.
 
From the hive to the field, she is the one doing the work, starting with cleaning the very cell she emerged from. The worker bee is to then clean every cell in sight and get them ready for new eggs. As she grows older, the job changes to removing all dead bees from the hive to inclusion of bad brood. The older bee is then expected to progress into helping her younger siblings (larvae) by feeding them.

The worker bees that are too young to go out and collect pollen meet those bringing it back and take it from them. This is part of the team work. This pollen is then packed into cells. Worker bees also take turns in keeping the hive cool by fanning with their wings.
 
Worker bees are also responsible for creating beeswax use to make new combs. But the new worker bee is still not ready to venture into the field as yet. The next task is to join the military and become a guard; she guards the hive and makes sure only family member get in. She accomplishes that task by sent.
 
Only now the new and older be is ready to leave her hive in search of pollen and food. First, she exits the hive, looks at it; then, flies up, down, and navigate around the hive entrance. Then, she starts to cycle her home As she widens the circumference of the cycle she looks for recognizable objects to find her way back. Next time you see a bee reflect on this post and consider its work ethics. What have you done today for your family? Be as the worker bees.      ​

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