Dick said> It is known

> that older bees can reverse the changes to their physiology and once again
> produce brood food.


I also see this, Dick, when we make up nucs in the spring, and leave catch
hives with a queen to catch the  drift.

I'm very curious how the vitellogenin /fat body development enters into this
picture of reversal of HP gland atrophy.  Again, the development of a VG
test kit would be invaluable for answering these questions.

Has anyone seen a reference for someone who has dissected out the HP glands
to track their regeneration when field bees are forced to rear brood?

Randy Oliver

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