Entomological Society of America Behavioral predictors of and effects of parasites on colony initiation in bumble bees Colony initiation is a key stage in the life cycle of many social insects. Bumble bees have an annual life cycle in which only queens overwinter and then initiate colonies in spring. Successful colony initiation is therefore critical…
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Diet quantity influences caste determination in honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Garett P. Slater, George D. Yocum and Julia H. Bowsher In species that care for their young, provisioning has profound effects on offspring fitness. Provisioning is important in honeybees because nutritional cues determine whether a female becomes a reproductive queen or sterile worker. A qualitative difference between the larval diets of queens and workers is…