What substance do bees produce to feed larva?

The substance that bees produce specifically to feed larvae is royal jelly. This highly nutritious secretion is produced by worker bees from glands located in their heads. Royal jelly is primarily composed of water, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, making it an exceptional food source that provides the essential nutrients required for the development of bee larvae.

Royal jelly is particularly significant because it is the exclusive food for queen bee larvae throughout their development, which is why they grow into larger, more fertile queens. In contrast, worker and drone larvae are fed a mixture of pollen and honey after the first few days of their life, but royal jelly is crucial for the early nutrition of all larvae in the hive.

This special feeding method ensures that the future queen receives the optimal diet for her role, while worker bees and drones transition to a different diet as they mature.