This is the life of a honeybee

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are true architects of nature. Their lives, although short for some, are marked by a structured organization. From birth to their final days outside the hive, a bee's life is marked by very specific tasks, all necessary for the hive to function properly.

From egg to adult bee: a natural cycle

It all begins when the queen, the only fertile female in the colony, lays her eggs in the wax cells of the honeycomb. She can lay up to 1,500 eggs per day during peak activity. This initial phase gives way to the following stages of development:

1. Larva : After hatching, the workers feed the young with royal jelly and nectar/pollen for about six days.
2. Pupa : the larva compacts and develops organs such as wings, legs and antennae in almost total concealment within its cell.
3. Adult : Upon emergence, the bee enters its working environment. Each caste has a different destiny: workers, drones, or potential new queens.

Thus, about 21 days after laying the egg, a new bee emerges, ready to assume its role within the colony.

Three castes and thousands of tasks

The hive is made up of three main castes, each essential for collective survival:

• Queen : Her mission is to lay eggs and maintain group cohesion through pheromones. She can live between 3 and 5 years.
• Drones : Robust males intended solely to mate with virgin queens in flight. They do not gather food or defend the hive.
• Workers : Infertile females that represent the majority of the population. Their lifespan lasts between 6 and 20 weeks, depending on the time of year. Their work is diverse and evolves with their age: they clean the combs, feed the larvae, build wax, ventilate, defend, and eventually, they go out to search for nectar, pollen, water, and propolis, often flying up to 3–5 km.
  

Pollination: an essential mission outside the hive

Foraging workers travel through plants daily to collect nectar and pollen. In this task, they transport pollen from one flower to another, which is essential for the reproduction of many plant species. Furthermore, inside the hive, they transform this nectar into honey through a process of regurgitation and evaporation. They then store it in cells and cover it with wax, ensuring food during the winter.

Why does it matter to know your life?

Understanding the life of a bee helps you appreciate the importance of every jar of natural honey that reaches your table. Behind every jar of Mayem Honey are thousands of worker, queen, and drone bees, working together, organizing themselves, and building their natural home under impeccable conditions.

Protecting them is essential . At Miel Mayem, we appreciate the work of bees and strive to offer 100% natural Spanish honey .