The effects of laying worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and their brood on the ovary development of other worker honeybees

Abstract

Ovary development of worker bees increased progressively in colonies receiving the following treatments: (a) with a queen and her brood, or without a queen but with laying worker bees and queen brood, or without a queen but with laying worker bees and their (drone) brood (in one of two experiments); (b) with a queen but without brood; (c) with laying worker bees but without brood; (d) without a queen, laying worker bees, or brood of any kind.