Is this a sign of anything

[HomeSteadDreamer]

While in a hive this weekend I noticed some of the bees were really small.  I started with natural cell size queens and they built their own foundationless wax last year.  So I kinda thought they wouldn't change size.  But I had some bees that were literally like 2/3 to 1/2 the size of the regular bees (yes I can tell drones from regular  workers).  this is two workers with a large size difference.  There was more than one of these small bess though not tons.  Is this a sign of some kind of disease or problem?  the hive seems healthy and has good population.

[BeeMaster2]

While in a hive this weekend I noticed some of the bees were really small.  I started with natural cell size queens and they built their own foundationless wax last year.  So I kinda thought they wouldn't change size.  But I had some bees that were literally like 2/3 to 1/2 the size of the regular bees (yes I can tell drones from regular workers).  this is two workers with a large size difference.  There was more than one of these small bees though not tons.  Is this a sign of some kind of disease or problem?  the hive seems healthy and has good population.

It is a sign that you foundationless hive is working. You must have had some smaller bees in the hive to build the smaller cells. Smaller bees hatch out a day or 2 early. This helps the bees win the war against the mites.
Jim

[RayMarler]

I have differently sized bees in my foundationless hives. I guess it's because not all cells are the same size in the hive. Bees raised in larger cells are larger bees and bees raised in smaller cells are smaller bees. I see the cells tend to be smaller in the centers of the combs and larger the further out from center of brood nest area. Sounds like yours are doing the same thing, all is well.

[Vance G]

Even among non regressed colonies, some workers appear really small especially newly emerged ones.  My bees are three years small cell and I still get some bees that seem huge compared to the crowd.  Size of workers is pretty variable in any colony in my observations.

[HomeSteadDreamer]

glad it isn't disease but some are really small almost like another species.  I'll try to get pictures soon.

[jayj200]

maybe it has to do with age. older they get the larger they are.
jay

[buzzbee]

It's likely be the different genetics from the drones the queen mated with.