Vitellogenin is a protein that plays a crucial role in honey bee colonies, particularly in the development and survival of the colony’s brood and winter bees. It is a precursor to egg yolk proteins and is essential for various functions:
- Brood Food Production: Nurse bees use vitellogenin to produce royal jelly and brood food, which are essential for feeding larvae and the queen.
- Fat Body Storage: Winter bees, which live much longer than summer workers, store vitellogenin in their fat bodies. This helps them survive through the winter and produce food for the colony in the absence of fresh pollen.
- Immune Support: Vitellogenin is linked to enhanced immunity in bees, helping them resist stress and disease.
- Longevity: Higher vitellogenin levels are associated with a longer lifespan in honey bees, especially for winter bees that must live for months without foraging.
Overall, vitellogenin is essential for colony survival, particularly in challenging seasons like winter.
