>
> In fact, queenless workers can live a lot longer than bees with a queen. Probably this is due in part to ovary activation. Also, it appears that foragers can have their lifespan lengthened if they are reverted to nurse bees (this has been done experimentally, by removing the nurse bees from colonies).
>
I think that the bees that are able to over winter (months) is because they are now absorbing all the vitamins and minerals that they would be feeding to the larva.
Bill Bartlett
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html