Abstract: In this paper, the microelements of worker bees with three growth stages(emerge workers, nurse bees and forge bees) in Apis cerana cerana and Apis mellifera ligustica were studied by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. The results showed that the physique of emerge workers, nurse bees and forge bees were rich in Fe,Ca,Ba,Li,K,Na,while the content of Ca was higher than that of other elements. In addition,the relative content of the elements in different stages of the same species or the same stage of different species was different. The experimental results also showed that laser induced breakdown spectroscopy could be used for the analysis of microelements in bees physique, and it was a rapidly qualitative and comparatively quantitative method.

Key words: laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; worker bees; microelements