What is the development time for a worker bee from egg to adult?

The development time for a worker bee from egg to adult is indeed 21 days. This process is divided into several distinct stages:

• The egg stage lasts for about 3 days.
• The larval stage, in which the egg hatches and the larva is fed royal jelly, pollen, and honey, lasts for around 6 days.
• Finally, the pupal stage, where the larva undergoes transformation into an adult bee, takes about 12 days.

When these stages are combined, we arrive at the total development time of approximately 21 days. Understanding this timeline is critical for beekeepers in managing the lifecycle of their colonies and ensuring that they maintain healthy populations of worker bees, which are essential for hive activities such as foraging and brood care. Knowing the duration helps in planning for colony growth and anticipating the workforce available at various seasons.