Abstract
Summary The relationship between the pupal weight of workers and honey production by their colony was examined for 14 honeybee colonies headed by instrumentally inseminated queens. The mean weight of pink-eyed pupae and colony weight gain during a 19-week test period were significantly correlated (r = 0·680, P<0·01). An analysis of variance on individual pupal weights from progeny of groups of 7 and 9 queens revealed highly significant differences between source colonies (P<0·001). The results support the feasibility of selection of honeybees for increased colony honey production based on the pupal weight of the worker.