1. Reproduction and population of the hive
The queen bee is responsible for the main task of reproduction and exclusively lays eggs. The queen lays up to 2000 eggs per day, which directly contributes to the growth of the hive population and the continuation of the generation. Population in the hive is one of the key factors in the survival of the colony; new bees are necessary to compensate for losses, perform hive tasks, and strengthen the colony.
2. Social control and colony cohesion with pheromones
The queen bee establishes a wordless relationship with other bees by secreting pheromones (special chemical compounds). The queen’s pheromones not only encourage other bees to coordinate and cooperate, but also ensure the social cohesion of the colony. These pheromones indicate the presence of the queen and the health of the colony, and if the queen’s presence is reduced or absent, the bees feel disorganized and restless.
3. Control and regulation of the division of labor in the hive
The queen stimulates specific behaviors in worker bees through pheromones. These behaviors include searching for food, caring for larvae, cleaning cells, and protecting the hive. In this way, each bee takes on specific tasks based on the needs of the colony, and the social structure of the hive is maintained.
4. Choosing a new queen: ensuring survival in the event of the loss of the queen
The queen is not directly involved in the process of choosing a new queen, but if the current queen is lost for any reason, the worker bees select certain eggs and carefully care for them until the new queen is raised. In this way, the life cycle of the colony continues and the hive is not left without a queen.
5. Colony growth and development through queen migration
When a colony becomes large and crowded, the old queen leaves the colony along with some of the bees and builds a new colony, which is called “migration” or “swarming”. This movement allows resources to be used more efficiently and new populations of bees to spread across different areas, which in turn helps maintain the survival and development of the colony.
Summary
The queen bee plays an indispensable role in maintaining the social structure, continuity of the generation, and survival of the colony. Through egg laying, secretion of pheromones, and regulation of social structure, she constantly contributes to the survival of the hive. Without the queen, the hive suffers from chaos and loss of cohesion, so maintaining the health and presence of the queen is vital for the survival of the colony.