Why are queen bees larger than worker bees?

Queen bees are larger than worker bees primarily because their body structure is specifically adapted for the primary function of laying eggs. The queen's size allows for a larger reproductive system, including a well-developed ovaries that can produce thousands of eggs daily during the peak season. This reproductive capacity is crucial for the colony's growth and sustainability.

The size of the queen, along with her pheromones, also plays a critical role in maintaining the hive's social structure and regulating the behavior of the worker bees. The anatomical differences between queens and workers are significant; while worker bees have specialized structures for foraging and hive maintenance, the queen's larger size is essential for her primary role in reproduction.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary reason for the size difference between queens and workers. For instance, while a larger queen may initially seem advantageous for flight ability or honey production, those traits are not her primary functions within the hive. Similarly, while worker bees can hold nectar, this ability is not relevant to the queen's role, which focuses on reproduction.