Honeybees

Honeybees

Contd…. Honeybee is a social insect that can survive only as a member of a community or colony Honeybee is a social insect that can survive only as a member of a community or colony The colony inhabits in an enclosed cavity, its nest The colony inhabits in an enclosed cavity, its nest Colonies are kept in artificial containers, usually wooden boxes known as hives. Colonies are kept in artificial containers, usually wooden boxes known as hives.

Members of a Bee colony

Bee Colony In each honeybee hive there are thousands of worker- bees, hundreds of male drones, but only a single female queen, who is mother to them all. In each honeybee hive there are thousands of worker- bees, hundreds of male drones, but only a single female queen, who is mother to them all. The workers provide nursing support for the larvae as well as hive maintanance The workers provide nursing support for the larvae as well as hive maintanance

A field bee collects nectar from a flower

How honey is made? Honeybee collects nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive. Honeybee collects nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive. In the hive they convert it in to honey. In the hive they convert it in to honey. The honey is stored in the cells of the honey comb and used as food. The honey is stored in the cells of the honey comb and used as food.

HONEY IS BEING MADE IN THE BEEHIVE

Bee Colony Every beehive has- Every beehive has- One Queen bee that lays eggs One Queen bee that lays eggs Thousands of worker- bees Thousands of worker- bees Hundreds of male drones Hundreds of male drones

The queen Each hive has a single Queen bee Each hive has a single Queen bee The queen bee is the mother of all workers drones and future queens The queen bee is the mother of all workers drones and future queens The Queen bee’s body is larger than all other bees The Queen bee’s body is larger than all other bees Queen bee lays thousands of eggs Queen bee lays thousands of eggs Eggs hatch to form larvae Eggs hatch to form larvae The eggs which are laid one per cell hatch in three days and become larvae The eggs which are laid one per cell hatch in three days and become larvae The larvae are fed with royal jelly for at least two days and then pollen and nectar or honey The larvae are fed with royal jelly for at least two days and then pollen and nectar or honey

Worker Bees Worker- bees are the most numerous members of the colony Worker- bees are the most numerous members of the colony Workers build and maintain the nest Workers build and maintain the nest They build the nest from the wax secreted from the glands in their abdomen They build the nest from the wax secreted from the glands in their abdomen The hexagonal cells constructed by the workers form the comb The hexagonal cells constructed by the workers form the comb Workers leave the hive to gather nectar pollen and water Workers leave the hive to gather nectar pollen and water They convert nectar to honey, clean the comb and feed the larvae, drones and the queen They convert nectar to honey, clean the comb and feed the larvae, drones and the queen

Activities of worker bees The worker- bees initially do the maintenance of the nest and after a certain period they become field bees The worker- bees initially do the maintenance of the nest and after a certain period they become field bees Field bees leave the hive and collect flower nectar Field bees leave the hive and collect flower nectar On entering the hive with a fully honey sac the field bee puts the contents into the mouth of a young worker bee On entering the hive with a fully honey sac the field bee puts the contents into the mouth of a young worker bee

Contd…. The worker (nurse) bee deposits the nectar in a cell and converts the nectar into honey The worker (nurse) bee deposits the nectar in a cell and converts the nectar into honey When the honey is fully formed the cell is sealed with an airtight wax capping When the honey is fully formed the cell is sealed with an airtight wax capping Bees store honey for winters Bees store honey for winters Pollen is carried to the nest on the hind legs of the field bees and placed directly in the cells Pollen is carried to the nest on the hind legs of the field bees and placed directly in the cells

The drones Drones are the male honeybees Drones are the male honeybees They are stingless, defenseless and unable to feed themselves They are stingless, defenseless and unable to feed themselves They are fed by the worker bees They are fed by the worker bees They are few in number compared to the worker- bees They are few in number compared to the worker- bees

Communication – An amazing factor A field bee finds a new source of food( field in bloom) A field bee finds a new source of food( field in bloom) She fills her honey sac with nectar returns to nest and performs a vigorous but highly standardized dance She fills her honey sac with nectar returns to nest and performs a vigorous but highly standardized dance If the new source of food is within about 90m of the nest the bee performs a circular dance If the new source of food is within about 90m of the nest the bee performs a circular dance The other bees in the nest follow the dancer, imitating her movements The other bees in the nest follow the dancer, imitating her movements

Contd… During the dance the other workers scent the fragrance of the flowers from which the dancer collected the nectar During the dance the other workers scent the fragrance of the flowers from which the dancer collected the nectar This way the other workers learn that the nectar is not far away and how it smells like and they leave the nest for nectar collection This way the other workers learn that the nectar is not far away and how it smells like and they leave the nest for nectar collection If the source is farther away the field bee performs a different dance with the wagging movements of her abdomen If the source is farther away the field bee performs a different dance with the wagging movements of her abdomen