FACTORS INFLUENCING THE 

 LIFESPAN OF BEES 



Anna Maurizio 

 Bienendbieilung, Liebefeld-Bern 



The lifespan of the honey-bee and its dependence on 

 internal and external influences have been the subject of 

 numerous investigations during the last ten years. The 

 problem is a complex one because the honey-bee does not 

 exist as an individual insect but as a member of a colony. 

 The characteristics of the honey-bee must therefore be con- 

 sidered not only from the point of view of the solitary insect, 

 but also from that of the colony. The lifespan of the colony 

 is theoretically unlimited, but that of the individual bee is 

 quite short. The lifespan is also very closely related to the 

 physiological condition of the individual, which in its turn 

 depends on the environment, nutrition and general condition 

 of the colony. The author would therefore like to present 

 this communication in two parts : 



(1) the lifespan of the bee in a free-flying colony, and 



(2) the lifespan of the bee when separated from the colony 

 and caged. 



Lifespan and Physiological Condition of 

 Bees in a Free -Flying Colony 



In those regions of the Temperate Zone marked by clearly 

 defined seasons, the colony is inhabited by two types of bees : 

 summer bees and winter bees. These represent two entirely 

 distinct generations of bees with regard to their lifespan, their 

 physiological condition and their mode of life. Here we are 

 confronted with one of the most important and interesting 



231 



