Nurse bees are young adult worker bees whose primary role involves the meticulous care and nourishment of the developing young within a honeybee colony. Their specialized functions are central to the colony’s continuity and overall well-being. Worker bees undertake this role shortly after their emergence, becoming the primary attendants in the hive’s nursery.
Primary Duties of a Nurse Bee
Nurse bees feed the colony’s larvae. They produce protein-rich royal jelly from their hypopharyngeal glands, which is initially fed to all young larvae. As the larvae grow, their diet differentiates; those destined to become worker bees or drones transition to a mixture of honey and pollen, known as bee bread. Queen larvae, however, continue to receive an exclusive diet of royal jelly, which supports their distinct development and larger size.
These caregivers visit individual larvae frequently to provide nourishment and inspect their development. During the first few days, they supply more food than the larvae can consume. By the third day, larvae grow larger and consume food as quickly as it is provided. Nurse bees also tend to the queen bee, feeding her with glandular secretions and honey, grooming her, and assisting with waste removal. This continuous attention allows the queen to focus on her egg-laying duties.
Beyond direct feeding, nurse bees contribute to maintaining the brood chamber’s environment. They cap the cells of larvae that are ready to transform into pupae with a wax seal. Their constant presence and tending behavior contribute to creating a stable environment for larval development.
The Nurse Bee Stage of Life
Being a nurse bee represents one of the initial responsibilities a female worker bee undertakes after emerging from her pupal stage. This stage begins three to four days after emergence and lasts until 12 to 15 days of age. During this period, the worker bee’s internal glands are fully developed to support their nursing activities.
After completing their tenure as nurse bees, these individuals gradually transition to other duties within the hive. Their subsequent tasks may include cleaning cells, processing incoming nectar, building new comb, or guarding the hive entrance. Older bees eventually move on to become foragers, collecting resources outside the hive.
Anatomy and Diet of a Nurse Bee
The ability of nurse bees to produce royal jelly is directly linked to the development and activity of their hypopharyngeal glands. These specialized glands are located in the bee’s head. They are composed of thousands of secretory units that produce the nutrient-rich jelly.
These glands are not fully developed when a bee first emerges but mature within six to twelve days, particularly with access to pollen. The primary fuel for these glands is pollen, a significant source of protein. Nurse bees consume large amounts of pollen to synthesize the proteins needed for royal jelly production. As the bee ages and transitions from nursing to other roles like foraging, these glands gradually decrease in size and activity.