Queen bees are approximately twice as large and live about 10 times longer than worker bees.
Notes on verification
Size claim (~2x) well-supported by multiple independent beekeeping/reference sources, though based on length not weight. Lifespan claim ('10x longer') is confirmed by a peer-reviewed source and ScienceDaily, but other credible sources cite ranges up to 20x, suggesting the 10x figure is a valid but low-end estimate rather than a universally agreed exact multiplier.
Sources
- Royal Jelly: Biological Action and Health Benefits - PMC (link.healthline.com)
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2527632/ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://carolinahoneybees.com/queen-bee-size/ (carolinahoneybees.com)
- https://a-z-animals.com/blog/queen-bee-vs-worker-bee-what-are-the-differences/ (a-z-animals.com)
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9506344/ (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)