Image Copyright 2001, David L. Green
Use without permission is theft. For Permission:
Old Bee/Young Bee
How Can I Tell the Difference?
Image Copyright 2001, David L. Green
Use without permission is theft. For Permission:
There are three sections of a bee: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.
An indicator of the relative age of the bee is the "hair" on the thorax.
As you can see, the young top bee is quite fuzzy, while the older bee at the bottom is
going bald.
Newly emerged bees can often be spotted on frames of brood, as they are
whitish in color, and may even have wet "hair." In a few hours the cuticle
darkens and the hair dries. Otherwise color makes little
difference.
When bees are flying hard, as during a heavy flow, frayed wings also can indicate a bee near the end of life. Note the pollen collecting bee below, whose wings have become extensively frayed. She will soon be unable to fly.
