What is the primary purpose of the queen bee in a hive?

The primary purpose of the queen bee in a hive is to lay eggs. The queen is the reproductive female of the colony and is crucial for the hive's population maintenance and growth. She can lay thousands of eggs each day during the peak season, ensuring the continuity of the colony. The queen's ability to produce a large number of offspring is vital for sustaining the workforce needed for foraging, nursing, and defending the hive, as well as for future queen production when the colony swells or swarms.

In contrast, foraging for nectar is typically performed by worker bees, who leave the hive to gather food resources. Guarding the hive is also a responsibility of worker bees, particularly those that are older, because they are equipped to defend against intruders. Nursing the brood, or caring for the developing larvae, is another task carried out by worker bees, as they are responsible for feeding and protecting the young. While the queen's presence is essential for the hive's growth and organization, her main and most critical role is egg production, which aligns with the function of sustaining the hive's population.