Abstract: Division of labor is a characteristic of honey bee (Apis mellifera) social behavior. An important aspect of this system is foraging specialization. Honey bee division of labor is built on a reproductive ground plan. Vitellogenin, a yolk precursor protein, plays an important role in reproduction in many insects. We used RNA interference to suppress expression of vitellogenin in worker honey bees Here, we show that vitellogenin has a regulatory function in both foraging specialization and the timing of the onset of foraging behavior. Foragers with silenced vitellogenin expression foraged earlier in life and collected larger nectar loads. Thus, vitellogenin is identified as a gene involved in the regulation of social organization