[Age- and caste-dependent changes in the haemolymph protein patterns ofApis mellifica]

It is only during the first days after hatching that similarities are found in the titer variations of haemolymph proteins in imagines of all castes of the honeybee. Later on caste-specific features occur.The ontogenesis of titer variations of all protein fractions is described for queens, workers, and drones. In the case of adult queens and egg-laying workers as well vitellogenin is predominant. In normal workers vitellogenic material is only present during the nurse phase. Generally the haemolymph protein pattern of worker bees shows the largest titer changes.Defined periods in the development of haemolymph protein patterns coincide with known age-dependent successions of behavioral activities. Their social regulation is discussed.