Dick, there is more info on this in my "Old Bees" articles at my website.
Worker bees which have not taken the diutinus course of development are
essentially immortal until they begin to fly. But I also question
that assumption, since they use the wing muscles not only for flight, but
also for heat generation.
My understanding was that when they became foragers, their diets were
changed. And that leads to a rapid decline in lifespan, not wing wear? Am
I mistaken??
Charles
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