What do honeybee workers do after about three weeks of age?

Honeybee workers typically transition to foraging after approximately three weeks of age. During the first part of their lives, they perform tasks within the hive, such as cleaning cells, feeding larvae, and grooming the queen. As they mature and gain experience, they take on the critical role of foraging, which involves leaving the hive to collect nectar, pollen, water, and propolis.

Foraging is essential for the survival of the colony, as it directly contributes to food resources needed for growth and maintenance. This shift in responsibilities is a natural part of the workers' life cycle, as they start off performing tasks that support the hive before moving on to roles that directly impact the colony's sustenance and health.

The other roles mentioned, such as becoming drones, queening the hive, or engaging in nest building, do not typically occur for worker bees, as those functions are designated for specific bees within the colony. Drones are males that play a singular role in mating, while the queen is solely responsible for reproduction. Nest building is often conducted by younger workers before they transition to foraging, not after three weeks of age.