Hobbies And Interests
Comparison
Africanized honeybees have shorter life spans than European honeybees.
Caste
A honeybee's expected lifespan is heavily dependent on the role a bee plays in the colony, known as its caste. Female bees can be either queens or workers, while males may only be drones.
Queen
The queen is the only fertile female in the hive and lays eggs to populate the hive. The lifespan of a queen bee is usually one to three years.
Worker
Workers are the infertile females that defend the hive and do various chores to keep the hive functioning. The lifespan of a worker is usually around one month.
Drone
Drones are males kept solely for the purpose of mating with the queen. The lifespan of a drone is usually five to 10 weeks.