HoneybeesHoneybees

HoneybeesHoneybees

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Honeybee is a social insect that can Honeybee is a social insect that can survive only as a member of a survive only as a member of a community or colonycommunity or colony

The colony inhabits in an enclosed The colony inhabits in an enclosed cavity, its nestcavity, its nest

Colonies are kept in artificial Colonies are kept in artificial containers, usually wooden boxes containers, usually wooden boxes known as hives.known as hives.

Members of a Bee colonyMembers of a Bee colony

Bee ColonyBee Colony

In each honeybee hive there are In each honeybee hive there are thousands of worker- bees, hundreds thousands of worker- bees, hundreds of male drones, but only a single of male drones, but only a single female queen, who is mother to them female queen, who is mother to them all.all.

The workers provide nursing support The workers provide nursing support for the larvae as well as hive for the larvae as well as hive maintanancemaintanance

A field bee collects nectar A field bee collects nectar from a flowerfrom a flower

How honey is made?How honey is made?

Honeybee collects nectar from Honeybee collects nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive.flowers and bring it back to the hive.

In the hive they convert it in to In the hive they convert it in to honey.honey.

The honey is stored in the cells of the The honey is stored in the cells of the honey comb and used as food.honey comb and used as food.

HONEY IS BEING MADE IN THE HONEY IS BEING MADE IN THE BEEHIVEBEEHIVE

Bee ColonyBee Colony

Every beehive has-Every beehive has-One One Queen beeQueen bee that lays eggs that lays eggsThousands of Thousands of worker- beesworker- beesHundreds of Hundreds of male dronesmale drones

The queenThe queen

Each hive has a single Queen beeEach hive has a single Queen bee The queen bee is the mother of all workers The queen bee is the mother of all workers

drones and future queensdrones and future queens The Queen bee’s body is larger than all The Queen bee’s body is larger than all

other beesother bees Queen bee lays thousands of eggsQueen bee lays thousands of eggs Eggs hatch to form larvaeEggs hatch to form larvae The eggs which are laid one per cell hatch The eggs which are laid one per cell hatch

in three days and become larvaein three days and become larvae The larvae are fed with royal jelly for at The larvae are fed with royal jelly for at

least two days and then pollen and nectar least two days and then pollen and nectar or honey or honey

Worker BeesWorker Bees

Worker- bees are the most numerous Worker- bees are the most numerous members of the colonymembers of the colony

Workers build and maintain the nestWorkers build and maintain the nest They build the nest from the wax secreted They build the nest from the wax secreted

from the glands in their abdomenfrom the glands in their abdomen The hexagonal cells constructed by the The hexagonal cells constructed by the

workers form the combworkers form the comb Workers leave the hive to gather nectar Workers leave the hive to gather nectar

pollen and waterpollen and water They convert nectar to honey, clean the They convert nectar to honey, clean the

comb and feed the larvae, drones and the comb and feed the larvae, drones and the queenqueen

Activities of worker beesActivities of worker bees

The worker- bees initially do the The worker- bees initially do the maintenance of the nest and after a maintenance of the nest and after a certain period they become field beescertain period they become field bees

Field bees leave the hive and collect Field bees leave the hive and collect flower nectarflower nectar

On entering the hive with a fully honey On entering the hive with a fully honey sac the field bee puts the contents into sac the field bee puts the contents into the mouth of a young worker beethe mouth of a young worker bee

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The worker (nurse) bee deposits the The worker (nurse) bee deposits the nectar in a cell and converts the nectar in a cell and converts the nectar into honeynectar into honey

When the honey is fully formed the When the honey is fully formed the cell is sealed with an airtight wax cell is sealed with an airtight wax cappingcapping

Bees store honey for wintersBees store honey for wintersPollen is carried to the nest on the Pollen is carried to the nest on the

hind legs of the field bees and placed hind legs of the field bees and placed directly in the cells directly in the cells

The drones The drones

Drones are the male honeybeesDrones are the male honeybeesThey are stingless, defenseless and They are stingless, defenseless and

unable to feed themselvesunable to feed themselvesThey are fed by the worker beesThey are fed by the worker beesThey are few in number compared to They are few in number compared to

the worker- beesthe worker- bees

Communication – An amazing Communication – An amazing factorfactor

A field bee finds a new source of A field bee finds a new source of food( field in bloom)food( field in bloom)

She fills her honey sac with nectar returns She fills her honey sac with nectar returns to nest and performs a vigorous but highly to nest and performs a vigorous but highly standardized dancestandardized dance

If the new source of food is within about If the new source of food is within about 90m of the nest the bee performs a 90m of the nest the bee performs a circular dancecircular dance

The other bees in the nest follow the The other bees in the nest follow the dancer, imitating her movementsdancer, imitating her movements

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During the dance the other workers scent During the dance the other workers scent the fragrance of the flowers from which the fragrance of the flowers from which the dancer collected the nectarthe dancer collected the nectar

This way the other workers learn that the This way the other workers learn that the nectar is not far away and how it smells nectar is not far away and how it smells like and they leave the nest for nectar like and they leave the nest for nectar collectioncollection

If the source is farther away the field bee If the source is farther away the field bee performs a different dance with the performs a different dance with the wagging movements of her abdomen wagging movements of her abdomen