GLYCOGEN IN HONEYBEE QUEENS, WORKERS AND DRONES (APIS-MELLIFERA-CARNICA POLLM)

Honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica Pollm.) have low glycogen reserves in summer. Upon emergence drones have significantly larger amounts per unit weight when emerging, than workers; perhaps as adaption to the r isk of not being fed as intensely as young workers, Maximum content wa s 0.23 mg for workers (28 d), and 0.59 mg for drones (after emergence) , Workers have relatively constant glycogen contents during their life , and very young drones have more glycogen than older ones, Young quee ns are similar to workers. In workers and queens in summer the greates t amounts of glycogen are found in the thorax. When the bees start fly ing (6th-8th day of life), drones have the highest amounts in the head (probably to supply their eyes), and upon maturity, drones have the l east glycogen in the abdomen. Workers in winter show different glycoge n values depending on whether they are active bees from the core area (0.23 mg) or inactive ones from the outer surface of the winter cluste r (0.37 mg). They use glycogen from the thorax and the abdomen for the ir ongoing energy need. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights rese rved.