CHARACTERIZATION OF POSTEMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF THE FEMALE CASTES OF THE HONEY BEE, APIS MELLIFERA L

Abstract

Queens and workers of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. have been reared as larvae and pupae under defined conditions, and the developmental stages have been associated with unequivocal features. The larval instars are characterized by the head diameter and weight of the larvae. The stages of pupal development. are defined by the colours shown by the compound eyes and the thorax. The temporal duration of the successive developmental stages has also been determined. With these criteria a larva or a pupa can be assigned to a definite position on the developmental time axis.