抄録
The seasonal change of the longevity of the worker honeybee (Apis mellifera LINNE) in Sapporo, was studied by the marking method. Three seasonal groups, spring bees, summer bees and autumn bees, are distinguished, respectively, with the estimated mean longevity of 30-40,25-30 and 50-60 days. The wintering bees are, as already well known, characterized by the prolonged longevity. The general trend is similar to that given by previous records, especially by Free and SPENCER-BOOTH (1959), excluding the difference due to the short favorable season characteristic to Sapporo. Foraging and brood rearing activities are regarded as important factors affecting the life-span, the former acting directly, whereas the latter indirectly by stimulating the foraging activity.
