the honey bee colony

The Honey Bee Colony

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The Honey Bee ColonyThe Honey Bee ColonyNestNest

Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and Differentiation

Seasonal CyclesSeasonal Cycles

Anatomy – pollen and nectar collectionAnatomy – pollen and nectar collection

Modern HivesModern Hives

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – IntroductionIntroduction

What we call honey bees are represented by eight What we call honey bees are represented by eight to 10 species in the genus to 10 species in the genus Apis. Apis.

““Api”-s is the foundation for beekeeping Api”-s is the foundation for beekeeping (apiculture) and the word for a bee yard (apiary).(apiculture) and the word for a bee yard (apiary).

The species of honey bee commonly found today in The species of honey bee commonly found today in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas is Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas is Apis melliferaApis mellifera, which means honey carrier. , which means honey carrier. – This name is not technically correct as the bees This name is not technically correct as the bees

carry nectar from flowers which they then use to carry nectar from flowers which they then use to produce honey back in the hive. Only when the produce honey back in the hive. Only when the bees are moving to a new nest (swarming) do bees are moving to a new nest (swarming) do they carry honey. they carry honey.

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – ApisApis races races

There are 24 races of There are 24 races of Apis melliferaApis mellifera. The races have . The races have different physical and behavioral characteristics different physical and behavioral characteristics such as body color, wing length, and susceptibility to such as body color, wing length, and susceptibility to disease. The races can mate with each other. disease. The races can mate with each other.

Caucasian bees ( A. mellifera caucasica) are extremely docile. The black or German bees ( A. mellifera mellifera) are known to overwinter well in severe climates.

The African group of bees includes the largest number of geographic races (12), which includes the notorious A. mellifera scutellata. A few queens of this highly defensive race were brought into Brazil in 1957 and started the bees we now know as "Africanized honey bees."

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – ApisApis races races

Although stingless bees do actually lack a Although stingless bees do actually lack a stinger, they are not completely stinger, they are not completely defenseless. They can inflict painful bites defenseless. They can inflict painful bites with their mandibles. They also do not with their mandibles. They also do not produce honey in the same quantity as produce honey in the same quantity as A. A. melliferamellifera. .

The true honey bee was not The true honey bee was not native to the Americas. Prior to native to the Americas. Prior to Columbus, people in Central and Columbus, people in Central and South America collected honey South America collected honey from bees known as "stingless from bees known as "stingless bees."bees."

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – HistoryHistory

In some cases, the honey bees traveled in advance of the European settlers and came in contact with Native American tribes, who dubbed them "white man's flies." By the time the frontier had been settled, late in the 19th century, honey bees were regarded as a natural part of the insect world in North America.

In the early part of the 16th In the early part of the 16th century, the Spanish brought century, the Spanish brought over the first honey bee over the first honey bee colonies. English colonists did colonies. English colonists did the same and soon honey the same and soon honey bees had escaped into the bees had escaped into the wild and were buzzing all over wild and were buzzing all over North America.North America.

The Honey Bee Colony – The Honey Bee Colony –

NestNest

A populous colony may contain 40,000 to A populous colony may contain 40,000 to 60,000 or more bees during the late spring 60,000 or more bees during the late spring or early summer. or early summer.



The eusocial, or truly The eusocial, or truly social, bees live in social, bees live in large colonies large colonies consisting of females consisting of females of two overlapping of two overlapping generations: mothers generations: mothers (queens) and (queens) and daughters (workers). daughters (workers). Males play no part in Males play no part in the colony's the colony's organization and only organization and only mate with the queens. mate with the queens.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationHoney is a sweet, thick, Honey is a sweet, thick, supersaturated sugar supersaturated sugar solution manufactured solution manufactured by bees to feed their by bees to feed their larvae and for larvae and for subsistence in winter. subsistence in winter. The nectar of flowers is The nectar of flowers is ingested by worker ingested by worker bees and converted to bees and converted to honey in special sacs in honey in special sacs in their esophagi. It is their esophagi. It is stored and aged in stored and aged in combs in their hives.combs in their hives.



Larvae are fed pollen Larvae are fed pollen and royal jelly and royal jelly progressively-that is, progressively-that is, cells are opened as cells are opened as necessary or are left necessary or are left open so that workers can open so that workers can tend the larvae. tend the larvae.

Royal jelly, which is secreted Royal jelly, which is secreted from the salivary glands of from the salivary glands of worker bees, serves as food worker bees, serves as food for all young larvae and as the for all young larvae and as the only food for larvae that will only food for larvae that will develop into queen bees.develop into queen bees.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and Differentiation We know that bees We know that bees

have been producing have been producing honey as they do honey as they do today for at least 150 today for at least 150 million years. Bees million years. Bees produce honey as food produce honey as food stores for the hive stores for the hive during the long during the long months of winter when months of winter when flowers aren't flowers aren't blooming and blooming and therefore little or no therefore little or no nectar is available to nectar is available to them. them.

Honey bees are herbivores; they eat nectar and honey.

Bee honey is composed of Bee honey is composed of fructose, glucose, and water, in fructose, glucose, and water, in varying proportions. It also varying proportions. It also contains several enzymes and contains several enzymes and oils. The color and flavor oils. The color and flavor depend on the age of the honey depend on the age of the honey and on the source of the nectar.and on the source of the nectar.



At the individual At the individual level, honey bees level, honey bees have not one but have not one but three types of three types of colony members: colony members: queens, drones queens, drones and workers, and workers, each with their each with their own own specializations specializations and place in and place in honey bee honey bee society. society.

The queen reigns The queen reigns over the nest, over the nest, surrounded by surrounded by attendants and fed attendants and fed the rich food she the rich food she requires to perform requires to perform her few but crucial her few but crucial tasks in the colony. tasks in the colony. The queen produces The queen produces powerful powerful pheromones, pheromones, chemical signals to chemical signals to recipient workers recipient workers which control many which control many of their behaviors of their behaviors and provide part of and provide part of the 'social glue' the 'social glue' which holds honey which holds honey bee life together. bee life together.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationHoney bee eggs hatch regardless of whether they are fertilized.

The female bees--queens and workers--develop from fertilized eggs that contain 32 chromosomes. These 32 chromosomes consist of two sets of 16, one set from each parent. Hence female bees are said to be diploid in origin.

The males (drones) develop from unfertilized egg which contain only one set of 16 chromosomes from their mother. Drones are thus haploid in origin. This reproduction by the development of unfertilized eggs is called parthenogenesis.



The queen is the only sexually developed female in the hive. The queen is the only sexually developed female in the hive. She is the largest bee in the colony.She is the largest bee in the colony.

A two-day-old larva is selected by the workers to be reared as A two-day-old larva is selected by the workers to be reared as the queen. She will emerge from her cell 11 days later to the queen. She will emerge from her cell 11 days later to mate in flight with approximately 18 drone (male) bees. mate in flight with approximately 18 drone (male) bees. During this mating, she receives several million sperm cells, During this mating, she receives several million sperm cells, which last her entire life span of nearly two years.which last her entire life span of nearly two years.

The queen starts to lay eggs about 10 days after mating. A The queen starts to lay eggs about 10 days after mating. A productive queen can lay 3,000 eggs in a single day.productive queen can lay 3,000 eggs in a single day.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationDrones are stout Drones are stout male bees that male bees that have no stingers. have no stingers. Drones do not Drones do not collect food or collect food or pollen from pollen from flowers. Their sole flowers. Their sole purpose is to mate purpose is to mate with the queen. If with the queen. If the colony is short the colony is short on food, drones on food, drones are often kicked are often kicked out of the hive out of the hive

Drones are tolerated Drones are tolerated in the hive only when in the hive only when there is a possibility there is a possibility that they may mate that they may mate with a queen. Thus a with a queen. Thus a few are tolerated in few are tolerated in spring and fall, more spring and fall, more in the summer, but in the summer, but none in the winter. none in the winter. The workers keep the The workers keep the drones out of the hive drones out of the hive to starve to death in to starve to death in the autumn.the autumn.

Drones, like queens, Drones, like queens, lack the body parts to lack the body parts to effectively harvest effectively harvest nectar or pollen to nectar or pollen to feed themselves. feed themselves. Drones also lack a Drones also lack a stinger of any kind. stinger of any kind. They are designed for They are designed for mating only.mating only.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationWorkers, the smallest bees in the Workers, the smallest bees in the colony, are sexually undeveloped colony, are sexually undeveloped females. A colony can have 50,000 to females. A colony can have 50,000 to 60,000 or more workers. 60,000 or more workers.

Worker and drone larvae are Worker and drone larvae are also fed royal jelly for their first also fed royal jelly for their first four days. For the remainder of four days. For the remainder of their larval stage, they are fed bee their larval stage, they are fed bee bread. bread.

–Bee bread is made from pollen Bee bread is made from pollen collected in the field. Two pollen collected in the field. Two pollen pellets are dropped into a cell, pellets are dropped into a cell, which are then manipulated and which are then manipulated and mixed with honey and secretions mixed with honey and secretions from worker bees. This mixture, from worker bees. This mixture, called bee bread, is then pushed called bee bread, is then pushed into the cell until it is two-thirds into the cell until it is two-thirds full. full.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationThe life span of a worker bee varies according to the time The life span of a worker bee varies according to the time of year. Her life expectancy is approximately 28 to 35 of year. Her life expectancy is approximately 28 to 35 days. Workers that are reared in September and October, days. Workers that are reared in September and October, however, can live through the winter.however, can live through the winter.

Workers feed the queen and larvae, guard the hive Workers feed the queen and larvae, guard the hive entrance and help to keep the hive cool by fanning their entrance and help to keep the hive cool by fanning their wings. Worker bees also collect nectar to make honey. In wings. Worker bees also collect nectar to make honey. In addition, honey bees produce wax comb. The comb is addition, honey bees produce wax comb. The comb is composed of hexagonal cells which have walls that are composed of hexagonal cells which have walls that are only 2/1000 inch thick, but support 25 times their own only 2/1000 inch thick, but support 25 times their own weight.weight.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and Differentiation Queen Drone Worker

Relative

large medium smallsize

#/hive1 ~200 or 0 20K-200K

Lifespan

2 years 21-32 days spring 20-40 days summer

depending on #sperm 90 days summer (worked to death)

or until mating 140 days winter

0 winter

Sex female male sterile female


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and Differentiation Queen Drone Worker

Functions

-kill sisters and mother -mate with young queen -make comb

-mate with males -tend larvae

-lay 1500 eggs/day -tend young drones

= 200K eggs/year -tend queen

-secrete pheromone = -clean hive

-gather nectar

-gather pollen

-gather propolis

-evaporate nectar

-cap cells

-defend hive

-starve drones

-move larvae for making new queens


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationNewly emerged workers begin working almost immediately. As they age, workers do the following tasks in this sequence: clean cells, circulate air with their wings, feed larvae, practice flying, receive pollen and nectar from foragers, guard hive entrance and forage.

Unlike colonies of social wasps and bumble bees, honey bee colonies live year after year. Therefore, most activity in a bee colony is aimed at surviving the next winter.

Workers, as their name implies, do most of the "work" around the hive. They secrete wax from glands on the abdomen and fashion the honeycomb and broodcomb from it. This comb contains hexagonal cells large enough to hold a developing worker or drone, a small quantity of honey, or pollen. When the cells are filled with honey, pollen, or a pupa, a worker caps the cell thereby sealing the contents inside.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationDuring winter, bees cluster in a tight ball. In January, the queen During winter, bees cluster in a tight ball. In January, the queen starts laying eggs in the center of the nest. Because stored honey starts laying eggs in the center of the nest. Because stored honey and pollen are used to feed these larvae, colony stores may fall and pollen are used to feed these larvae, colony stores may fall dangerously low in late winter when brood production has started dangerously low in late winter when brood production has started but plants are not yet producing nectar or pollen. but plants are not yet producing nectar or pollen.

When spring "nectar flows" begin, bee When spring "nectar flows" begin, bee populations grow rapidly. By April and populations grow rapidly. By April and May, many colonies are crowded with May, many colonies are crowded with bees, and these congested colonies may bees, and these congested colonies may split and form new colonies by a process split and form new colonies by a process called "swarming."called "swarming."

A crowded colony rears several daughter queens, then the original mother queen flies away from the colony, accompanied by up to 60 percent of the workers. These bees cluster on some object such as a tree branch while scout bees search for a more permanent nest site - usually a hollow tree or wall void. Within 24 hours the swarm relocates to the new nest. One of the daughter queens that was left behind inherits the original colony.



Table 1. Development time of honey bee castes.

Days after Laying Egg

Stage Worker Queen Drone

Hatching 3 3 3

Cell capped

8 8 10

Becomes a pupa

11 10 14

Becomes an adult

20 15 22.5

Emerges from cell

21 16 24


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationThe queen keeps the The queen keeps the workers uninterested in workers uninterested in reproduction on their own reproduction on their own by secreting a by secreting a pheromone. This chemical pheromone. This chemical is spread from body to is spread from body to body among the workers body among the workers starting with those starting with those tending the queen.tending the queen.

The other job of the queen is to The other job of the queen is to lay eggs and this task consumes lay eggs and this task consumes all her conscious effort. A group all her conscious effort. A group of five to ten workers feed her a of five to ten workers feed her a small bit after she lays about 20 small bit after she lays about 20 eggs. eggs.

A newly hatched queen A newly hatched queen destroys any other destroys any other unhatched queens, fights unhatched queens, fights to the death any hatched to the death any hatched queens, may destroy her queens, may destroy her mother, and then takes mother, and then takes her mating flight.her mating flight.

The mating flight follows a The mating flight follows a pattern. The virgin queen flies pattern. The virgin queen flies to a congregation area where to a congregation area where hundreds or thousands of hundreds or thousands of drones await. The drones drones await. The drones pursue the queen and several pursue the queen and several mate with her in flight.mate with her in flight.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and DifferentiationBee Nutrition: Bee Nutrition:

Pollen is stored in broodcomb cells and is the main Pollen is stored in broodcomb cells and is the main supply of protein and vitamins for the hive. Pollen supply of protein and vitamins for the hive. Pollen is 6 to 28% protein by weight and usually is 6 to 28% protein by weight and usually contains the 10 amino acids essential for bees.contains the 10 amino acids essential for bees.

Nectar is from 5 to 80% Nectar is from 5 to 80% sugar, so nectar is the sugar, so nectar is the carbohydrate supply for carbohydrate supply for the hive. the hive.

Nectar is placed in honeycomb cells and Nectar is placed in honeycomb cells and the bees tending the honeycomb evaporate the the bees tending the honeycomb evaporate the water from the nectar by rapid wing movement water from the nectar by rapid wing movement to create ventilation. to create ventilation.

When the amount of water remaining in When the amount of water remaining in the nectar is less than 18%, the mixture is the nectar is less than 18%, the mixture is called honey and the bees cap off the cells.called honey and the bees cap off the cells.


Caste Development and DifferentiationCaste Development and Differentiation A mixture of honey and pollen is A mixture of honey and pollen is called "bee bread" and is the food for called "bee bread" and is the food for most larvae and bees. most larvae and bees.

When a worker egg has been When a worker egg has been selected to become a queen, it is selected to become a queen, it is moved to a much larger queen cell moved to a much larger queen cell and is fed large quantities of "royal and is fed large quantities of "royal jelly" which is similar to bee bread jelly" which is similar to bee bread but contains more mandibular gland but contains more mandibular gland secretions and more honey (34% vs. secretions and more honey (34% vs. 12%). 12%).

The larger cell for growth, larger food The larger cell for growth, larger food supply, additional carbohydrate, and supply, additional carbohydrate, and more worker secretions results in the more worker secretions results in the development of a queen.development of a queen.

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – PheromonesPheromones

Bees use pheromones for a number of different Bees use pheromones for a number of different communication and behavior-control purposes. One communication and behavior-control purposes. One pheromone may cause many different responses, depending pheromone may cause many different responses, depending on environmental conditions and pheromone concentration.on environmental conditions and pheromone concentration.

Behavioral Pheromones Behavioral Pheromones

The pheromone produced The pheromone produced by the Nassonoff gland, by the Nassonoff gland, which opens onto the side of which opens onto the side of the abdomen, attracts the abdomen, attracts workers and queens. workers and queens.

Another pheromone Another pheromone produced by virgin queens (and produced by virgin queens (and released with feces) repels released with feces) repels when a new queen feels when a new queen feels threatened by the workers.threatened by the workers.


The main alarm pheromone is released with the sting, and is a mix The main alarm pheromone is released with the sting, and is a mix of many compounds. They induce flight behavior, others cause of many compounds. They induce flight behavior, others cause only recruitment of more bees from within the hive. only recruitment of more bees from within the hive.

Marker Pheromones: Marker Pheromones: honeybees use Nassonoff honeybees use Nassonoff gland pheromones for marking gland pheromones for marking food sources, in marking the food sources, in marking the hive, in scenting prospective hive, in scenting prospective hive locations by scouts, and in hive locations by scouts, and in gathering swarms in flight. gathering swarms in flight.

The odor of each colony is The odor of each colony is different, and probably results different, and probably results from a combination of from a combination of endogenous (pheromone or endogenous (pheromone or pheromone-like) materials and pheromone-like) materials and exogenous (food) materials in exogenous (food) materials in each hive. each hive.


The queen bee exerts her influence over the hive by means The queen bee exerts her influence over the hive by means of the Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP):of the Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP):– mating attractant for the dronesmating attractant for the drones– suppresses the reproductive systems of the workers, ensuring suppresses the reproductive systems of the workers, ensuring

that the queen is the only reproductive female in the hive.that the queen is the only reproductive female in the hive.

QMP is distributed around the hive QMP is distributed around the hive by food sharing. As long as the by food sharing. As long as the queen substance circulates by queen substance circulates by this method, the workers know this method, the workers know that the queen is present. that the queen is present.

If the queen is removed, QMP no If the queen is removed, QMP no longer circulates in the hive, and longer circulates in the hive, and the workers begin to feed royal the workers begin to feed royal jelly to larvae to produce a new jelly to larvae to produce a new queen. queen.


Seasonal CyclesSeasonal CyclesThe honey bee exhibits a combination of individual traits and social co-operation which is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. Although a hive only needs 20-30 lb. of honey to survive an average winter, the bees are capable, if given the space of collecting much more. This is what the beekeeper wants them to do.

The Honey Bee Colony – The Honey Bee Colony – Anatomy for Pollen and Nectar CollectionAnatomy for Pollen and Nectar Collection

Most bees have Most bees have specialized specialized branched or branched or feathery body feathery body hairs that help hairs that help in the collection in the collection of pollen. of pollen.


The rewards The rewards plants provide plants provide bees include bees include nectar and nectar and pollen. The pollen. The nectar is a nectar is a sweet liquid sweet liquid composed of composed of mostly mostly sucrose. The sucrose. The bees collect bees collect this liquid in this liquid in their crop their crop


Digestive enzymes, Digestive enzymes, most importantly most importantly invertase, are added. By invertase, are added. By the time the bee returns the time the bee returns to the hive, much of the to the hive, much of the sucrose in converted to sucrose in converted to glucose and fructose. In glucose and fructose. In the hive the bee empties the hive the bee empties its crop into a cell or the its crop into a cell or the nectar is transferred to nectar is transferred to another worker who another worker who takes it to the takes it to the honeycomb for honeycomb for evaporation to make evaporation to make honey. The bee here has honey. The bee here has a full crop!a full crop!


Pollen is dusted all Pollen is dusted all over the bee as over the bee as she visits a flower. she visits a flower. The bee's legs are The bee's legs are designed to comb designed to comb this pollen from her this pollen from her body body

and catch it in a tuft of bristles on her third pair of legs

Pollen basket


Modern HivesModern Hives

The Honey Bee Colony –The Honey Bee Colony – Modern HivesModern Hives


Prior to the middle of the 1800s, most Prior to the middle of the 1800s, most bee hives in North America and Europe were bee hives in North America and Europe were simple shelters for the bees. Skeps, log gums simple shelters for the bees. Skeps, log gums and box hives were common types of hives in and box hives were common types of hives in this period. Bees attached their wax combs to this period. Bees attached their wax combs to the hive's roof and walls, just like they do in wild the hive's roof and walls, just like they do in wild hives. hives.

Anglo Saxon "Skeppa" which means basket Skeps were made from grass straw, and often Skeps were made from grass straw, and often

had sticks inside to provide support for the honey had sticks inside to provide support for the honey combs. Beekeepers inspected skep hives from combs. Beekeepers inspected skep hives from the bottom. the bottom.

Box hives were simple shelters to house a swarm Box hives were simple shelters to house a swarm of bees. of bees.

Log gums were made from hollow logs, fitted Log gums were made from hollow logs, fitted with a roof. with a roof.

It was also hard to get honey from these hives It was also hard to get honey from these hives without damaging or destroying the bee colony without damaging or destroying the bee colony and getting the bees upset.and getting the bees upset.


By the year 1900, most modern beekeepers By the year 1900, most modern beekeepers were using variants of the Langstroth hive were using variants of the Langstroth hive with Hoffman-style frame.with Hoffman-style frame.These inventions helped make beekeeping a These inventions helped make beekeeping a viable business. viable business. The modern bee hive has not changed very The modern bee hive has not changed very much during the 20th century. The most much during the 20th century. The most significant beekeeping advances of the 20th significant beekeeping advances of the 20th century involved the extracting process and century involved the extracting process and bee management. bee management.


Langstroth HiveLangstroth Hive

Honey Bee In-Service TrainingHoney Bee In-Service Trainingfor UF/IFAS Extension Agentsfor UF/IFAS Extension Agents

Thank you for your time …Thank you for your time …

Information in this presentation came from a number of websites including, but not limited to: http://koning.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/Plants_Human/bees/bees.html

http://www.beemaster.com/honeybee/caste.htm

http://www.bees4kids.org.uk/whybees/facts.html

http://www.apimondia2005.com/historyofirishbeekeeping/historyofirishbeekeeping.html

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/bkCD/HBBiology/beebiology.html

http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/history1.htm

the honey bee colony

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