Respiration in Developing Honeybee Larvae

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Abstract
Summary The dichotomy between queen and worker honeybee larvae with respect to oxygen consumption appeared at about 50 hours. It was characterized by a progressive increase in the rate of uptake (in μl/hr/mg) by queen larvae and a progressive decrease in the rate of uptake by worker larvae, that continued until about 72 hours. During this period oxygen uptake was sensitive to the influence of diet, royal jelly supporting a higher level than worker jelly in both queen and worker larvae. Worker jelly reduced the rate of increase in consumption by queen larvae, but royal jelly did not significantly retard the rate of decrease in worker larvae. Feeding worker jelly to queen larvae 72–96 hours old reduced their oxygen uptake, but feeding royal jelly to worker larvae of the same age had no significant effect. Oxygen consumption varied appreciably with season in queen larvae but not in worker larvae. Although oxygen consumption is higher in queen larvae, caution is necessary in adopting absolute rates as indicators of caste, because of dietary and seasonal influences. Respiratory quotients were generally higher in queens throughout the first 96 hours of larval life.

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