From the brood cell to the bottle

Worker Bee Life Cycle

A close look at twenty-one remarkable days inside the hive.

A pearly-white worker honey bee egg seen in extreme macro detail A healthy worker honey bee larva curled in a C shape A worker honey bee pupa with folded legs and wing pads An adult worker honey bee in side profile A clear glass jar of deep amber raw honey labeled Pine Hill Honey

Days 1–3

Egg

The queen fixes one slender, pearly-white egg to the floor of a brood cell. It stands upright at first, leans on the second day, and lies nearly flat before hatching.

Use the arrows to move through each stage.