What is the primary role of the queen bee?

The primary role of the queen bee is to lay eggs. The queen is the reproductive leader of the hive and is responsible for ensuring the colony's population remains stable and grows. A healthy queen can lay thousands of eggs daily during the peak of the season, which is crucial for the survival and strength of the colony. The eggs develop into various classes of bees, including worker bees and drones, each fulfilling specific roles in the hive.

Foraging for food is primarily the responsibility of the worker bees. They gather nectar and pollen, which are essential for the hive's nutrition and honey production. While maintaining hive structure and other duties are important, these tasks are also carried out by worker bees, not the queen. The queen does not produce honey; instead, that role lies with the worker bees, who convert nectar into honey and store it in the hive for the colony's food supply. Thus, the accurate focus of the queen's responsibilities is on reproduction, making the laying of eggs her primary role.