How many days does it take for a fertilized egg to become a queen bee?

The transformation of a fertilized egg into a queen bee typically takes about 16 days. This developmental process begins when the egg is laid by the queen and progresses through several stages: the egg stage lasts for about three days, followed by the larval stage, where the larva is fed royal jelly by the worker bees. This special diet is crucial in determining that the larva will develop into a queen rather than a worker bee.

After the larval stage, which lasts around five days, the larva spins a cocoon and enters the pupal stage. The pupation process encompasses an additional week, culminating in the emergence of the fully developed queen bee. This timeline is critical for the hive's dynamics, as a new queen is vital for colony reproduction and leadership. The 16-day period is well-documented in beekeeping literature, making it an essential fact for anyone studying the life cycle of bees and their reproductive processes.