AnAge entry for Apis mellifera

Classification (HAGRID: 00006)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Arthropoda (Taxon entry)
        Class: Insecta (Taxon entry)
            Order: Hymenoptera
                Family: Apidae
                    Genus: Apis
Species
Apis mellifera
Common name
Honey bee

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
8 years
Source
ref. 812
Sample size
Medium
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

As in other social insects, workers and queens have distinct lifespans in the honey bee. Queens have been reported to live up to 8 years. Workers have a short lifespan due to foraging but can live 0.2-0.4 years if prevented from foraging. In the winter, workers can develop into a stress-resistant form called the "diunitus" and live up to 0.9 years [0812]. As workers age there is a decline in cellular degradation activity [1166].

Life history traits (averages)

No information is available on life history. Please contact us if you wish to suggest or contribute data.

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 154396
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 7460
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Internet
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