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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