Abstract
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.