Aside from being some genetic color differences that can occasionally show up, the younger bees are lighter colored in general. They come out of the cell being all covered with light fuzz, and their skin seems to be lighter too. As they get older and their shell hardens and the fuzz wears off they do darken quite a bit.
Wax starts out mostly white, but if they are hauling pollen it it will get stained the color of the pollen (usually yellow). This will eventually fade to brown and black.
Drones are a good sign, they won't raise these until they are getting stronger.
Sure is fun to see all the different things going on, stings excepted!! Orientation flights are fun to watch, I like just standing in front of the hive listening to the hum of the bees and watching the honeybee tornado. And if the drones are coming and going it is even louder.
-r