How do other bees identify worker laid eggs?

Worker bees identify eggs that have been laid by other workers primarily through odor and taste. Each egg has specific chemical cues that the bees can detect, allowing them to discern the origin of the egg. These chemical signals are crucial for maintaining the social structure of the colony, as they help prevent issues such as laying worker bees from disrupting the hierarchy and reproductive status of the queen.

While visual inspection could theoretically play a role, it is not the primary mechanism by which bees identify the origin of eggs. The size of the egg and its location within the hive are also factors in certain contexts, but they do not confer the same reliable information about the egg's origin as the chemical cues do. Thus, odor and taste are the most effective means for worker bees to recognize and respond appropriately to their hive's population dynamics.