Drones begin to appear in the hive in mid-spring. Here, a few drones (the ones with large eyes) mingle among workers in the brood nest.
The various colors of pollen in a honey bee nest indicate different source plant species.
Eggs and young worker larvae in the brood nest, interspersed with cells filled with "bee bread"- a mix of honey and pollen that serves as food for older larvae.
A pair of worker bees processing pollen. The various colors in the cells indicate pollen from different plant species.
Freed from the confines of a beekeeper's square frame and artificial wax foundation, bees naturally build combs in U-shaped panels.
Honey bees naturally build their combs in a characteristic U-shape.
Honey bees ripen nectar during the spring honey flow.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A worker honey bee fans air over the exposed Nasonov gland near the tip of her abdomen. The orientation pheromones produced by the gland help other bees orient to the colony. 

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Four capped queen cells.
Drones begin to appear in the hive in mid-spring. Here, a few drones (the ones with large eyes) mingle among workers in the brood nest.
Drones begin to appear in the hive in mid-spring. Here, a few drones (the ones with large eyes) mingle among workers in the brood nest.
Drones begin to appear in the hive in mid-spring. Here, a few drones (the ones with large eyes) mingle among workers in the brood nest.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013