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