Bees are some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. They play a vital role in helping keep our ecosystem in balance, and their incredible ability to build honeycombs ensures a continuous production of honey. However, the is a little-known fact that is often overlooked. This article takes a closer look at the life cycle of a bee, and the different stages it goes through before it meets its end.
1. Buzzing Into Life: The Unique Lifespan of a Bee
Bees are one of nature’s most interesting creatures. With their unique lifespan, incredible anatomy, and intricate social structure, it’s no surprise they’re so beloved by many. Here’s a breakdown of the buzzing creature’s journey through life:
Hatch & Grow: The life of a bee starts as an egg, freshly laid in a supportive environment such as a honeycomb. Over the course of three days, the egg hatches and becomes a larvae. As it grows, it takes on its signature black and yellow colour, eventually turning into a pupa – halfway between larvae and adult bee.
Working Life: After the pupal stage is complete, the bee emerges an adult and is ready for the hard work of the hive. Duties include tending to the queen bee, collecting nectar, making honey, defending the hive from threats, and helping to expand their community. And of course, pollinating any plants their hive may come across!
Decline & End: After about 6 weeks of hard work, adult bees start to experience a decline in energy and brittle wings. At this point, their duties will start reducing until eventually they can’t do anything and pass away. On average, a bee will live around 4-5 weeks in total.
- Egg → Larvae → Pupa → Adult
- Average lifespan: 4-5 weeks
- Jobs and duties of an adult bee:
- Tending to queen bee
- Collecting nectar and making honey
- Defending hive from threats
- Expanding their community
- Pollinating plants
2. From Egg to Emergence: Bee Development
When it comes to bee development, the first stage is the egg. Each bee begins life as a single egg, laid in a cell within a honeycomb. Within the egg, a larva starts to form. When the egg hatches, the larva takes up residence in its cell, where it will feed and grow.
It eats a special diet of royal jelly produced by workers, which is a mixture of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and vitamins. It continues eating for about six days before shedding its skin and entering the pupa stage.
The pupa is the intermediate stage during which the bee transforms from grub to adult. For several days, the pupa does nothing besides grow and develop. Its wings and body expand, and its nervous system, eyes, and other sensory organs mature.
The royal jelly continues to provide the nutrition it needs during this time. Finally, the pupa’s outer skin splits and the adult bee emerges. After it emerges, the bee cleans up, dries its wings, and takes its maiden flight.
- Egg stage: One egg is laid in a cell within a honeycomb.
- Larva stage: Larva feeds, grows and sheds its skin.
- Pupa stage: Bee transforms from grub to adult, wings and body expand, and nervous, eyes and sensory organs mature.
- Adult stage: Bee emerges from the pupa, cleans up, dries wings, and takes maiden flight.
3. Honeybee Workers: Toiling Away
The honeybee workers are the most numerous members of the hive, numbering in the thousands. And they certainly have their work cut out for them; they spend their short six-week lives tirelessly gathering essential nectars and pollens to feed the hive. And they don’t just work hard, they work smart too; they spend much of their time in the field learning the layout of the local environmental topography.
The worker bees are tasked with a variety of duties, including comb building, hive cleanliness, gathering nectar and pollen, water collection, temperature control, and defensive messages. Each bee takes incredible ownership of her own job and works non-stop to get it done. Here’s a list of a few of their day-to-day activities:
- Gathering Pollen/Nectar: Worker bees travel up to five miles away from the hive, searching for flowering plants. They use their tongues to extract the nectar and pollen from the flowers, then store it in the honey pockets on their legs, ready to bring it home.
- Comb Building: Worker bees create the comb pattern, the structure which provides a home for the queen and her brood.
- Temperature Control: Worker bees keep the hive at a constant temperature of 35-37°C through their incessant fanning of their wings and by clustering around the queen bee.
The dedicated work of the honeybee workers is of integral importance to the health and survival of the hive. Without them, no honey would ever be produced, and no beekeeping business could exist. The tireless work of the honeybee workers truly showcases the beauty in teamwork and the power of the individual.
4. Drone Bees: The Short and Sporadic Life
Drone bees have a very peculiar and special way of life. As the name suggests, they are not built to last and tend to have a very short, sometimes a spontaneous life. As such, they have to make the best of it. Here is what the life of a drone bee looks like:
- In the morning, drones are found outside of their hive looking for mates or gathering food from flowers.
- At midday, drones tend to relax in the shade of nearby plants enjoying the sunny weather.
- In the evening, drones will collectively fly around the hive to protect it from predators and defend it from any intruders.
When it comes to living arrangements, drones are solitary. They are not able to provision the hive and therefore stay apart from the worker bees. It is only during mating season that they find their way back to the hive. Here, they join a big swarm of other drones and take part in a mating ritual. Here, a female bee will pick a male bee and they will mate while hovering in the air. If a drone bee manages to pass on its genes to the next generation, it will have successfully fulfilled its purpose and will soon perish.
The life of a drone bee is as interesting as it is unpredictable. It is a perfect example of the beauty of nature and its many ways of sustaining colonies of bees. Although its life may be short, it is sure to be lived to the fullest.
5. The Old and Aristocratic Queen: One Last Fling
Welcome to the fifth step of our royal odyssey! This chapter takes us back to the oldest monarch of them all: Queen Elizabeth the Second. At last, we get to explore the carnival of high society that is her life and find out what it’s like to spend an evening with royalty.
They Love to Dance!
- The Queen and her husband Prince Phillip are known for their grandiose dances and ballroom routines. The Dancing Queen she is called by some!
- Witness the Queen’s court through special, highly entertaining performances like a Royal Waltz or a Burlesque.
- For those who can’t take part in the dance, join a traditional song and dance session. Sing traditional English songs, such as the classic “Green Grows the Rush” or the more modern tunes like “I Will Survive” – all while keeping your feet tapping in the process!
The Thrill of Dinners
- Dining with the Queen can be a thrill for guests. Join her for a formal, multi-course meal in the illustrious Buckingham Palace dining room. Experience sampling the best wines and finest cuisine handpicked by Her Majesty and her staff.
- Make it extra special with a private game of croquet post-dinner on the lawns. Or you may join in with the Queen in her favorite game of lawn darts!
- When you’re done, feel free to tuck yourself in with a nightcap of tea and some delightful scones.
The Queen is an icon of grace and class. A night with her is sure to be a royal gala like no other. While the Queen is a symbol of the past and an icon of sociability, this is the one and only chance to live the dream and make the most out of an evening with the oldest monarch. Bon voyage!
6. Inside the Hustle and Bustle of the Hive
It’s been said that cities never truly sleep, and the same could be said of the bustling hive the city has become. Come dusk, the streets come to life with people, cars, and the sound of a million converging conversations. You can’t help but feel a certain energy emanating from the crossroads of humanity.
Each day, on every street corner and park bench, a unique array of stories unfold. Some of them barely heard, while some call out in a desperate plea for a savior. No matter the issue, the hive puts its best foot forward and offers a helping hand.
The hustle and bustle of the hive is a delicate balancing act like any other city. It’s a delicate mix of the old and the new, where the past and the present collide. It’s a place where cultures and backgrounds merge, and where everyone’s ideas are given a platform to be heard.
It’s a place of encouragement and collaboration, but also of competition and hard work. No matter the path taken, the hustle and bustle of the hive will never cease to amaze. From the ever-present whir of the public transport system, to the street performers bringing cheer and music to all who pass by, the hive has an energy that is undeniably unique.
- The City Never Sleeps: The streets come to life, and a million conversations fill the air.
- Many Stories: From the desperate, to the inspiring, individuals with unique stories are everywhere.
- Unique Mix of the Old and the New: Where cultures meet, strike a conversation, and create something beautiful.
- Inspiring Energies: From the ever-present public transport to the street performers, the hive has an energy like no other.
7. Buzzing Off Into the Sunset: A Bee’s Final Journey
As the days begin to lengthen and the temperatures begin to rise, many of us are thinking about taking a well-earned break to relax and enjoy the long summer days. But for bees, summer time signals a different kind of break – one to prepare for their final journey.
A bee’s life spans about 6 weeks, and has its uses for every hour of it. During this last phase of its life, a bee’s purpose is to make sure that enough of its kind will live to take its place when it is gone.
During the final few days of their life, bees will do the following:
- Make More Bees. Bees have one last chance to pollinate and create new members of their colony. They will go out in the fields and find flowers on which to proliferate.
- Clean the Hive. Bees use the last days of their life to make sure the home they’ll leave behind is in tiptop condition, making sure that the new bees won’t become sick or unable to thrive.
- Stock Up On Food. Bees load up on food from the hive to take with them, as their journeys can last up to a few days.
When these tasks are done and the bee is ready for its fateful journey, it takes off, never to return. The bee may go out to search for new flowers to pollinate, or to faraway places to start a new life. Either way, it won’t be coming back.
8. Legacy of the Bee: Longevity and Purpose
Since ancient times, the bee has been a powerful symbol of purpose and endurance. As one of the longest-living critters, the bee’s life-span and diligent work ethic have been celebrated by cultures around the world. Here is a look at how the bee has impacted the world with its timeless legacy:
Work Ethic: When it comes to working hard, the bee is in a class of its own. From sunrise to sundown, this tiny creature tirelessly pumps nectar into its cells, creating precious honeycomb. This commitment to its task not only provides food for the bees, but also blesses the world with a delicious treat!
Pollination: One of the most important roles of the bee is its integral part in pollinating crops. As they move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they end up spreading pollen between flowers and plants, allowing them to reproduce and thrive.
Nature & Culture: Bees hold a powerful place within both nature and culture. In many cultures, their hard work, purpose and longevity are revered and celebrated. In nature, their pollinating activities keep the environment in balance and contribute to an abundance of crops and trees.
- Work ethic
- Pollinating crops
- Nature & Culture
From the dawn of time, the bee has provided a source of inspiration as well as sustenance. The bee continues to awe the world with its remarkable longevity, hard work, and life-saving pollinating services. There’s no question that this tiny creature is truly one ofnature’s most treasured gifts. As the is surprisingly short and sweet, let us take the time to appreciate the vital role the bee has in keeping us and the planet alive. We should strive to protect our hardworking bee friends, ensuring that the species will remain for generations for come.
