Dee,

As I am sure that you are aware - Royal jelly and Worker brood food have 
different consistencies.

I do not know - but it appears that certain metabolic processes 
undertaken by summer bees lead to the usure of a genetically controlled 
life length.

I wonder if the absence or reduction of such processes slows the burning 
of the life fuse, stops it or reconstructs it - only to be rekindled and 
consequentially shortened to eventual final extinction later in the 
following spring.

I am a simple beekeeper and as such would dearly welcome more 
researchers to publicly partake in forums such as this one, in the name 
of educating me.

There are a few brave souls who appear to avoid the pitfalls allied in 
voicing their knowledge in public. To them, many thanks!

Peter

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