Social Behaviour in Honey Bees http://www.insectidentification.org/imgs/insects/honey-bee.jpg

By: Biji Saro Varghese B.Sc -I

Features of social behaviour Social insects always live in a large

population.

Members of colony cooperate with each others for food ,shelter and protection.

It shows polymorphism.

Castes of honey bee•Queen

•Drones

•Workers

The Queen Only reproductive female

Feeds on Royal Jelly

Mates once

Egg laying is the only function Secretes Queen Factor

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Drones Haploid males developed from unfertilized

eggs. It fertilize queen.

Die shortly after mating.

They are dependent and begging honey from the workers

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WorkersWorkers Imperfectly developed Females from fertilized eggs.

Smaller in size than queen and drones.

They are responsible for maintanence and wellfare of the colony

Labor Activities of Labor Activities of WorkersWorkers

During first half of her life she attends indoor activities.

•Secretion of royal jelly,bees wax.•Feeding of brood,queen.•Building combs, cleaning, ventilating, cooling, guarding hive, evaporating the nector and storing the honey.

During second half of her life she performs outdoor activities

•Collection of nectar, pollen, propolis and water.

Outdoor worker bees

SearchersGatherers

Searcher bees searches for the food where as gatherer bees gather the food

Worker Bee Dances

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Round dance•The searcher bee run in circle.

•This dance indicates that the food source is less than 100 meters from the hive

Waggle danceThis dance indicatesthat the food sourceis located more than100 meter

The searcher runs for a short distance in straight line and then moves in a semicircle.

Charachteristic features of Bees

Teaches us a lesson of work and work with cooperation.

Organized system of division of labour. A medium size colony consist only one queen,

300-500 drones and 25000-35000 workers. Drones dies after mating. Worker bee posses powerful sting with poison

gland together called poison apparatus.

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