Definition

[trulli1]

At a lecture I attended recently I was told that there are only two castes:

Queen Bee and Worker Bee = 1st (Female)
Drone Bee = 2nd (Male)

I have read in some books and online that there are three:

Queen Bee = 1st
Worker Bee = 2nd
Drone Bee = 3rd

Which one is correct?

 

[marcros]

At a lecture I attended recently I was told that there are only two castes:

Queen Bee and Worker Bee = 1st (Female)
Drone Bee = 2nd (Male)

I have read in some books and online that there are three:

Queen Bee = 1st
Worker Bee = 2nd
Drone Bee = 3rd

Which one is correct?

It depends. 'Caste' itself is defined as something along the lines of a 'specialized group'. Bees could therefore be divided into 2 castes, based on sex, or 3 castes based on function.

I would hazard a guess that publications/lectures aimed at breeding or genetics would probably be interested in the 2 caste system, and more general beekeeping the 3 caste system.

Does this help?

Mark

 

[trulli1]

Very much so... Thank you!

 

[SixFooter]

I was told recently that there are 2 castes within the female sex. Drones are not a different caste, they are different sex.