Reproduction: Life Cycle of Bees

Killer reproduce in the same manner as other bees. They go through many changes on their way to adulthood. The process is called complete metamorphosis. This transformation consists of four stages of development. They are egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Let's take a look at how the young killer bees develop during each stage so that you get a better understanding of this phenomenon.

Egg

The egg stage is the first step in complete metamorphosis. During this stage the Killer Bee offspring will develop internal organs, a nervous system, skin, and more. Once this stage is complete(2-3 days) the killer bee will emerge as a worm-like larvae that will continue to eat and grow on it's way to adulthood.

Larvae

During the larvae stage the young killer bees will gain mass. They will begin to sprout their wings, develop legs, etc. This stage is extremely critical. If the larvae don't get enough to eat, they won't have the energy for further development when they reach the pupae stage, and they will die. It is the job of the workers to ensure that this doesn't happen. They need good strong healthy bees to support their growing, and this stage is not the one for the elders to slack on.

Pupae

Once the larvae has enough fat stored in it's body to survive while in the cocoon, it will build it's new abode within a cell of the honey comb. During this stage, the killer bee will remain dormant until it is nearly fully developed. Once this goal is reached, the killer bees emerge, and based on their title (queen, drone, or worker) they will begin to fulfill their obligations to the colony.

Adult

Upon exiting the cocoon, the killer bee is practically full grown. The overall size of the bee might change slightly in the first week or so of this stage, but all in all, the young killer bees are grown up and very capable of being productive members of the colony.