Abstract: 【Objective】The purpose was to investigate the protein composition of worker bees larvae of the higher producing royal jelly bees (Apis mellifera L.).【Method】Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) was employed to separate and quantify proteins of the larvae of the higher producing royal jelly worker bees (Apis mellifera L.) during their six days development.【Result】The results showed that 262, 418 and 194 proteins with a range of molecular weight 12.2-88.2 KDa and relatively narrow scope of pI 4.00-9.24 could be detected on day 2, day 4 and day 6 during the developmental process of the larvae, respectively. Meanwhile 84 protein spots were constantly detected during the larvae development, among them 33 percent were expressed in up trend along with the larvae development, 21 percent were in down trend and 46 percent were irregular. In addition, the specific proteins expressed on day 2, day 4 and day 6 were 88, 209, 63, respectively. Except the constant and specific expressed proteins, 84 proteins were expressed on day 2 and day 4 but silenced on day 6, 41 proteins wereexpressed on day 2 and day 4 but silenced on day 6, only 6 proteins were expressed on day 2 and day 6 but silenced on day 4.【Conclusion】The result indicates that the larvae development is a sequential and complex gene controlled process, while the proteins of larvae of day 4 express the most active. The eternal expressed proteins suggest that they are conservative and indispensable for this event. The specific proteins detected at different developmental stage suggesting it is indispensable to regulate the larvae’ growth.

Key words: honeybees, higher production royal jelly, worker bee’s larvae, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proteome