Research indicates that the roles of worker bees evolve with age, and their brain structures adapt accordingly. This is discussed in studies on honeybee neuroplasticity (for those of us who aren’t scientists this is “the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.” *
For instance, a study published in PubMed examined the role of juvenile hormone in the behavioral maturation and brain structure of honeybees. The research found that as worker bees transition from performing within-hive tasks to foraging outside, there is a significant increase in the production of juvenile hormone.
This hormonal change is accompanied by internal reorganization in the mushroom bodies of the brain, regions associated with learning and memory. The study suggests that juvenile hormone may mediate neural plasticity in adult honeybees to support the cognitive demands of foraging.
Additionally, research on bumblebees, which share similarities with honeybees, has shown that both age and sensory experiences influence brain development. Significant increases in the volumes of sensory processing regions and the mushroom bodies occur within the first few weeks of adulthood. These changes are thought to support the complex behaviors required for foraging and other tasks.