What are the three types of bees in a colony?

In a honey bee colony, the three distinct types of bees are the queen, worker, and drone bees.

The queen bee is the sole reproductive female in the colony and is responsible for laying eggs. Her primary function is to ensure the survival of the colony by producing offspring. The queen is usually larger than the other bees and has a longer lifespan, sometimes living several years.

Worker bees are non-reproductive females that perform various essential tasks within the colony, including foraging for nectar and pollen, caring for the queen's eggs and larvae, building and repairing the hive, and defending the colony from threats. They make up the bulk of the hive's population and are crucial for the colony's day-to-day functions and survival.

Drones are the male bees, whose primary role is to mate with a queen during the mating process. They do not partake in foraging or hive maintenance, and they are typically expelled from the colony in the fall when resources become scarce.

This classification of bees is fundamental to understanding the social structure and roles within a beehive, which is critical for both beekeeping practice and bee conservation efforts.