Larval feeds for different castes of honey bees include exclusively royal
jelly from 4–9 days of development for the queen, and for worker larvae, royal jelly
and worker jelly for 4-6 and 6–9 days respectively, whereas for drone larvae, royal
jelly and a blended composite mixture of honey and pollen grain for 4-6 and 6–9 days
respectively. For the queen, worker, and drone larvae, larval feeds include royal jelly
and worker jelly for 4-6 and 6–9 days respectively. Royal jelly is a thick, creamy
substance that is produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker
honey bees. Its primary components include water, hydrocarbons, proteins, lipids,
minerals, vitamins, and a small amount of various types of polyphenols. Because the
queen eats different larvae than the worker bees, this triggers a chain reaction of
biochemical reactions, which ultimately leads to a high concentration of juvenile and
ecdysone hormones being released. These hormones, in turn, regulate the expression of
different genes in a sequential manner. Queen larvae have a variant proteomic that
promotes the healthy development of the female reproductive system, which in turn
leads to profound fertility and immune protection, as well as a longer life span for the
queen.
Keywords: Composition, Honey bees, Royal jelly, Worker jelly.
