How Bees Work: The Life Cycle
Like butterflies and other insects, bees go through many stages of life. Starting as an egg, the bee grows over time until it is big enough to leave the hive. From that point on, the life span of the bee varies depending on the bee’s role: A queen bee can live for two years, drones die immediately after mating with queens, and worker bees can live from 40 days to 140 days, depending on the season. Use this Appendix to learn about the honey bee’s life cycle before leaving the hive.
