Glossary

The larva is the developmental phase of an insect after it has hatched from an egg but before it has become a pupa. A larva’s main function is to eat and grow. All honey bee castes spend an average of six days as larvae.

A laying worker is a worker honey bee that lays eggs. This can happen when the queen has died or is no longer producing high levels of queen pheromone. There are sometimes laying workers in queenright hives as well. Laying workers’ offspring are drones because their eggs are not fertilized.

See polarized light.

A lineage is a group of organisms (in the case of honey bees it is a group of subspecies) that is genetically distinct from other lineages. Lineages differ in their geographical range, their behaviors, and their morphology (size, shape, color, etc.). All subspecies within the lineage are descended from the same common ancestor. There are four lineages of honey bees: African (A), western and northern European (M), eastern European (C), and near Eastern and central Asian (O).

Lipids are a class of molecules that are important for life. They include fats, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, among others. Honey bees acquire lipids from pollen in their diet.

The term ‘locally adapted’ refers to an organism that has adjusted to become well-suited to their specific environment.