'In summary I do not see how a worker can emerge as one thing one time and emerge as some other thing some other time.  I think they all start out the same as what we call winter bees and their lives evolve depending on what is going on in the hive with respect to brood rearing.'





Yes, I agree. Do in spring and summer when the colony is growing, every nest bee takes care of say two larvae. These nest bees live short after this brood care. In fall when the pollen are dwindling the brood nest becomes smaller and smaller. Then two or these nest news are taking care of one larvae. These nest bees live longer. The pupae that emerge and have no brood care live longest.



Also bees forage up to 800km in life. When nectar and pollen are abundant they fly up these kms faster and live longer than when forage is becoming less abundant. This effect is smaller than the effect of brood care though.



The scientific papers of Gro Amdam or the ones of matilla and otis are nice to read.



Coby









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