A secret to making a queen bee may lie in the wax around it
Recent research suggests that the wax surrounding queen bee larvae plays a significant role in their development. This challenges the traditional belief that royal jelly is solely responsible for making a queen. The study highlights the unique properties of the wax that may influence the transformation of larvae into queens.
- ▪The wax of the queen cell has distinct physical and chemical properties that influence larval development.
- ▪Researchers analyzed the composition of the chamber and the larvae it contains.
- ▪The findings suggest that factors beyond royal jelly contribute to the making of a queen bee.
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News Animals A secret to making a queen bee may lie in the wax around it Specialized workers build queen cells with distinct wax that appears to influence larvae A queen honeybee clings to the rough, peanut-shaped wax of its cell. New research finds that the wax itself helps shape whether a larva becomes a queen. Yu Fang/Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences By Anirban Mukhopadhyay 11 seconds ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print A queen bee may be shaped by more than its famous royal diet.
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