1. A Trip Into the Hive Brian VanIwarden

2. Parts of the Hive On average there are about 50k bees in a hive during the summer Honey Super Frame w/ wax foundation Brood in comb Brood Chamber “Deep” Hive Entrance

3. Types of Honey Bees There are approx. 25k different species of bees Needed to fertilize a virgin queen. Are only found during the summer months. Male- takes 24 days to hatch. Lives for two weeks. Female- 21 days to hatch. Lives for 6 weeks in the summer. 3 months in winter. Why? Female- 16 days to hatch. Same DNA as a worker. Lives 2-3 years. Takes care of larva & collects pollen to produce honey.

4. Queens Same DNA as a worker, but fed a very nutrient rich diet of “Royal Jelly” in the larva stage. Lay approximately 2000 eggs/day. Do not lay during the winter. Have one nuptial flight after emergence. Mate with multiple drones. Control the bees with pheromone unique to the hive.

5. Life Cycle Bees do not hibernate (cluster). Will become active if temps reach 60 ͦ F Larva pupates into an adult bee Eggs are fed & hatch into a larva Queen lays eggs in the comb.

6. Swarming A swarm Because of overcrowding, Supercedure cells are laid by the queen before the swarm leaves Can also be drawn out if the queen dies

7. Pollen/Nectar Pollen is digested & regurgitated into honey & wax 6 lbs of honey = 1 lb wax Visit flowers within a two mile radius It takes 250k flowers = 1 ounce of honey Waggle dance to indicate the direction to a food source Stored Pollen Can fly up to 15 mph

8. Honey Flavor is unique to flower source 1 gal=to a trip to the moon 7k miles flown/oz 1 bee makes ½ tsp honey Only food that won’t spoil

9. Threats CCD Fear Mites Disease Animals Pesticides Drought/Rain Diminishing Farm Land 30% colony loss is normal each winter

10. Importance of Bees Pollination Honey Production Medicinal Allergies 1 million hives are needed to pollinate crops each year 1/3 of all foods (3/4 of all plants) are pollinated by bees

11. Questions?