Arthur Soares

Division of labour among worker honey bees homozygous and heterozygous for the mutant allele chartreuse-limao (chli)

SUMMARYThe division of labour among worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) homozygous (chli/chli) and heterozygous (chli/+) for the mutant eye colour allele chartreuse-limao (chli) was observed daily for five months. Sixteen different activities were studied. The chli/+ bees behave normally in the hive, but the abnormal eye pigmentation associated with chli affects orientation and flight of chli/chli bees, thereby reducing lifespan, and preventing normal activity outside the hive.