Honey Bee Biology by Madam Ayesha Department of Zoology University of Peshawar Pakistan
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Transcript of Honey Bee Biology by Madam Ayesha Department of Zoology University of Peshawar Pakistan
What is Beekeeping? Beekeeping is Applied Bee Biology
Beekeeping is Colony Population
Management
Rock bee and its hives
Little bee and its hives
Indian bee and its hive
Bee History
Evolved from wasps perhaps 150 million years ago
A recently found fossilized bee dates back 97 million years
First honey bee appeared 20-25 million years ago
Bee keeping” by humans occurred 3,500 years ago
Bees Are Social (Eusocial)
Reproductive division of work
Have sterile castes
Cooperate in care of young
Colony
External Anatomy
Four pairs of glands, sometimes called mirrors.
During the wax forming period in the life of a worker, the glands greatly thicken and take on their glandular structure.
The wax is discharged as a liquid, hardens to small flakes or scales, and sits in wax pockets. The wax scale is then transferred to the mandibles where it is chewed into a compact mass.
After the worker bee outgrows the wax forming period, the glands degenerate and become a flat layer of cells.
Wax Gland(s):
Workers have a Nasanoff gland at the end of their abdomen
This Nasanoff gland is used by the guard bees at the hive entrance to disseminate a scent that guides
young bees back to the entrance during early flights.
On the end of the female bee's abdomen is the ovipositor (stinger).
The ovipositor of the worker bee is barbed so that it remains imbedded into whatever the honeybee stings.
In its struggle to free itself, a portion of the bee (stinger, venom sac) is left behind, which damages her enough to kill her.
The venom sac continues to contract by reflex action, continuously pumping venom into the wound for several seconds.
The queen’s ovipositor is slightly barbed and is “reusable”: It’s used to kill rival queens.
Life Cycle
The Birthing Room – Eggs & Larva(e)
About to be cappedAbout to pupate
Pupa(e)
Basic Biology Development
Adults
One queen (normally)
•Only actively reproducing female
•Can produce 1,500 eggs per day at the height of the brood season
•Can live for 2-4 yrs
•Controls the hive through pheromones
Queen
WorkersFemale
Usually do not reproduce
Responsible for most of the work
•Colony will have 20,000 -70,000+
•Live for 4-6 weeks in summer, 4-5 months in winter
Drone & Worker Cells
Queen CellsWorker cells are horizontal while queen cells
are vertical
As the queen larva grows, the cell enlarges and becomes peanut-shaped when capped for
the pupal stage of development
Drones
Males
Sexually mature at 2 weeks
Mate with female queens while in flight
Upon mating they die
Removed from the hive in late fall
Division of Labor
Among females (reproduction)
Among workers (tasks)
Not fixed somewhat plastic
Depends uponAge or development of the beeNeeds of the colony
Young bees:
1 to 10 days
•Cell cleaning
•Tend brood
•Cap brood
•Attend queen
Workers
Middle-aged bees:
10 to 20 days old
•Receive nectar & pollen
•Comb building
•Hive cleaning
Debris removal
Climate control
Old bees:
20 days until death
(30-45 days)
Foraging
◦Nectar
◦Pollen
◦Water
Hive defense
Foraging -EffortsTo make 1 lb honey
Bees visit 2,000,000 flowers
Gather 8-10 lbs nectar
Fly 55,000 miles
The life work of 1 bee =
1/12 teaspoon honey
To make 1 lb wax
Need to consume 8-10 lbs honey
Foraging Conveys direction & distance to nectar and pollen sources
Round Dance Waggle Dance
Division of Labor Reproduction
The Queen is the primary reproductive unit of the hive
Fertilized eggs may become either workers or queens
To become a queen, a larva must:◦Be fed royal jelly◦Be fed more food◦Have a larger cell
New Queens arise due to:
SwarmingThe queen initiates a new queen in the hive. She then leaves with a portion of the workers
& starts a new hive
SupersedureWorkers kill off the old queen & new queens are
formed. Generally to save the existing colony
Seasons of the Hive Winter
•Maintenance of colony & temperature
•Conservation of food
Spring
•Increase brood production
•Start of foraging
Summer •Foraging •Brood production •Comb production •Drone development •Swarming & queen
mating
Autumn •Maintenance of colony •Conservation of food •Reduce brood •Death of drones