At what stage do worker bees generally perform various tasks within the colony?

Worker bees typically perform various tasks within the colony after they reach a certain age, usually a few days to weeks after emerging from their cells. When they first emerge, they are still immature and primarily focused on grooming themselves and developing. As they age, they transition into different roles within the hive, such as nursing, cleaning, foraging, and guarding the nest.

This progressive division of labor is vital for the colony's efficiency and survival, as older worker bees take on more physically demanding tasks like foraging for nectar and pollen, while younger bees concentrate on duties that require less physical exertion. This structured approach ensures that every member contributes effectively to the colony's needs as they mature.

The other options do not accurately capture the developmental process of worker bees within the hive. Newly emerged bees do not take on duties immediately, mating is a role specific to drones and does not apply to workers, and workers do not operate solely in the absence of the queen. Thus, choice C appropriately encompasses the age-related task distribution among worker bees in a colony.