What is the primary role of nurse bees in a colony?

Nurse bees play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the bee colony. Their primary responsibility is to care for the brood, which includes eggs, larvae, and pupae. Nurse bees are responsible for feeding the larvae with royal jelly, pollen, and honey to ensure their growth and development into mature bees. This care is vital for the colony's sustainability, as the health of the brood directly impacts the future population of the hive.

While other roles in the colony, such as guarding the hive entrance or collecting nectar and pollen, are important for the overall functioning of the hive, they do not encompass the specialized tasks that nurse bees perform. By nurturing the young and providing essential resources, nurse bees ensure the continuity of the colony and the effective rearing of new generations of bees. This nurturing activity is critical, especially when the queen bee is laying eggs and the colony is in a phase of growth.