Abstract: Because of the efficient pollination for many natural plants and crops, honey bees (Apis spp.) are of great value in economy and ecology. As a highly eusocial insect, the honey bee has become a model organism in sociobiology. The reproductive division of labor, based on the caste differentiation in social insects is of great significance in evolution. Many important findings about honey bee caste differentiation have been obtained in recent years, and the mechanisms underpinning this process were well elucidated. Different nutritional stimuli trigger the caste differentiation of honey bee larvae. Royalactin, a major protein component of royal jelly, is found to be the key nutritional factor inducing queen development. The queen inducing function of royalactin is mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptors (Egfr) in fat body cells. DNA methylation, one of the important epigenetic mechanisms, is associated with the development and disease of vertebrates. Recently, it is evident that DNA methylation is also involved into the regulation of honey bee caste differentiation. Moreover, more and more findings have deepened people’s understanding of the important regulation roles of endocrine system in the caste differentiation. In this article, we reviewed the mechanisms of honey bee caste differentiation from three aspects, i.e., the key nutritional factors, epigenetic regulation, and endocrine modulation. We also proposed several directions for future studies in this area.

Key words: Honey bee, caste differentiation, nutritional factor, royalactin, epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation, endocrinal regulation