Journal of Entomological Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue: 3

Worker jelly composition modulation and its influence on development of worker larvae

Department of Zoology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara -144 401, Punjab, India

*Corresponding author's E-mail: lovleenmarwaha@gmail.com

Online published on 20 October, 2021.

Abstract

Worker jelly a honey bee secretion, plays a consequential role in the caste tenacity in honey bees. It accommodates as the source of alimentation for adolescent larvae perquisite to become worker honey bees. Worker jelly possesses sundry functional properties such as its utilization as medication, health food, and cosmetics. Worker jelly will consist of moisture content, protein, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), glucose and fructose, proteins, lipids and trace matter such as carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins etc. The accurate amount of these composition when fed helps in maintaining proper growth of the body, organs, colony and caste determination of honey bees. Any kind of variation found in composition of worker jelly leads to various effects on the development of worker larvae such as effect on ovary development, longevity extension, emergency queen rearing, queen-worker dimorphism, etc. It is highlighted that diet quality plays a consequential role in the determination of caste of honey bee. Worker honey bees are reared as emergency queen rearing in case if the queen is missing or not able to lay eggs. Thus, this paper reviews that the modulation in the composition of worker jelly has its influence on the worker larvae development.

Keywords

Caste development, Composition, Honey bee, Longevity, Worker jelly