royal jelly

American  

noun

1. a viscous substance secreted from the pharyngeal glands of worker honeybees, fed to all larvae during their first few days and afterward only to those larvae selected to be queens.

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royal jelly British  

noun

1. a substance secreted by the pharyngeal glands of worker bees and fed to all larvae when very young and to larvae destined to become queens throughout their development

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Etymology

Origin of royal jelly

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Not only has honey production fallen, but with it the quantity of other products such as royal jelly, bee pollen, bee venom and bee glue known as propolis.

From Reuters • Nov. 22, 2022

The researchers graft the larvae into cell cups lined with royal jelly, the nutrient rich compound that young larvae gorge on to become queens.

From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2018

Her fascination with apian life and the little-known techniques of beekeeping give rise to the most memorable scenes in the novel, as when Silvia learns to harvest royal jelly from the hive.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2018

And bee grubs will grow up to be queens if they are fed a steady diet of royal jelly.

From Nature • Dec. 6, 2016

“If there’s no space in the hive, the old queen lays some eggs, which are then fed something called royal jelly so that they grow into new queens,” Mel said.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby