What is royal jelly?

Royal jelly is a unique substance that is secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker bees. Its primary function is to serve as the exclusive food source for queen larvae during their development. This rich glandular secretion contains proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential for the growth and health of the developing queen bee.

The composition of royal jelly is specially suited to promote rapid growth and differentiation of the larvae into queens, differentiating them from worker bees, which do not receive this exclusive diet. This special feeding ensures that the queen can grow significantly larger than worker bees and develop the reproductive organs necessary for egg-laying, which is critical for maintaining the hive's population.

While some might consider other options like honey or bee bread as part of a bee's diet, they do not account for the specialized role and unique characteristics of royal jelly in supporting the development of queen bees specifically. This distinction highlights why the answer focusing on secretions from worker bees for queen larvae is the most accurate.