蜂后, or the queen bee, is the primary reproductive female in a bee colony. She is responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the survival of the hive. A healthy queen can lay thousands of eggs each day, and her presence helps maintain the social structure of the colony. The queen bee is larger than the worker bees and has a longer abdomen. She is usually the only fertile female in the hive, while the other female bees, known as 工蜂, perform various tasks such as foraging for food and caring for the young. The queen is vital for the colony's growth and stability.