Abstract: 【Aim】 The hypopharyngeal gland of honeybee is responsible for secreting royal jelly. This study aims to understand the postembryonic development of the hypopharyngeal gland of workers of the Chinese honeybee, Apis cerana cerana. 【Methods】 The postembryonic developmental process and structure characteristics of the hypopharyngeal gland of A. c. cerana workers were comparatively studied by using histological, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) techniques. 【Results】 The results showed that the hypopharyngeal gland of A. c. cerana workers is originated from evaginations of the dorsal portion of the mouthpart during the prepupal stage, and extensive proliferation in the hypopharyngeal gland is detected only in the first three days of pupal development. Proliferative nuclei disappear on the 7th day of pupal development. The acinis divide on the 5th day of pupal development. In late pupae, the acinis of hypopharyngeal gland form but has not grown to full size. The hypopharyngeal gland is highly developed in nursing workers. Programmed cell death (PCD) predominates in older foraging workers. 【Conclusion】 This study reveals the cell proliferation and apoptosis pattern of the hypopharyngeal gland of A. c. cerana workers during postembryonic development, providing an essential foundation for studying the development and function of insect hypopharyngeal gland.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, hypopharyngeal gland, BrdU, programmed cell death (PCD), postembryonic development