is this a good or bad brood pattern ? bee biology…

Is this a Good or Bad Brood Pattern ?

Bee Biology…..

HoneyBee Life Cycle –

• Queen

• Mates when 6 – 8 days old

• Mates while flying (8 – 12 ft above ground)

• Mates on multiple days & with multiple drones (if present)

• Diverse Drone Populations are better (genetic diversity)

• Mates when weather condition is acceptable (rainy days affect success)

• Properly mated queens are fertilized with over 5 million sperm

• Commercially raised queens (Dr David Tarpy)

• 81% - fertilized with less than 5 million sperm

• 19% - fertilized with less than 3 million

• Pheromones, Chemical Substances & Worker Bee Activity

• Avg. eggs/day = 1200 to 1800 (Spring & Early Summer)

• Avg. Reproductive Life Span 1 – 2 yrs.

• Avg. Life Span (Subspecies influence) 3 – 5 yrs


• Queen Cells

• Supercedure Cells


• Queen - Reproductive Anatomy


• Drone - develops from unfertilized egg

• Male (fertile)

• No Pollen Basket

• No Honey sac

• No Stinger

• No Hive Duties

• Mates w/virgin queen while flying

• Dies

• Non Mating – Avg. life cycle = ?

Note Eye Color !


• Worker – develops from fertilized egg

• Female (infertile)

• Newly Emerged 2-10 days

• Worker 11 – 20 days

• Foragers 21 days - DOA

• Avg. life cycle = 4 to 6 weeks

• Glands – Royal Jelly

• Pollen baskets

• 4 pr wax glands – underside of abdomen

• Honey Sac

• Stinger


• Worker

• Royal Jelly

• Secreted from

• hypopharyngeal glands in head

• Fed to all bee larvae

• First 3 days – Workers & Drones

• All days – Queen

• Active component – “Royalactin”

• a single protein, responsible for queen development


• Worker

• Specialization/Responsibilities


• Color recognition to a Bee


• Color recognition

What a Bee sees


• Communication between Bees

• Foragers communicate their floral findings:

• 2 Theorems

• The “waggle dance” theory

• 1947 - Karl Von Frisch

• 1973 received Nobel Prize

(Physiology/Medicine)

• The “odor plume” theory (Adrian Wenner)

Apiary Regist

ration State Law

Ohio Revised Code –

909.01 to 909.18

Register with the Dept of Agriculture (ODA)

$5 per Apiary Location

ODA supports County Inspectors

Cuyahoga County

Appoints Apiary Inspector - Annual

Inspections sent to ODA – Annual

Apiaries Registered - 177

Colonies - 471

Cities in Cuyahoga County ordinances

Apiaries Allowed w/Restrictions

Brook Park – No

All Others – Yes

City of Cleveland requires registration

Apiary Regist

ration

30% of Ohio Bee Colonies died over 2010/2011 winter

How to improve your odds?

• Study Best Practices - leverage your experience & what works for you• Embrace Apiculture Management Tools

• Classes• Techniques & Skills

• Mentors• Ask Questions• Keep a Journal• Study - Study - Study

• Join GCBA• Attend Conferences

Seasonal M

anagement

• MembershipMembership

- AdvantagesAdvantages• Experienced & Knowledgeable Beekeepers ( 100+ yrs combined )Experienced & Knowledgeable Beekeepers ( 100+ yrs combined )

• A deep caring and concern for the fragility of the Honeybee population A deep caring and concern for the fragility of the Honeybee population

• Profound dedication in the collective management of honeybees and their Profound dedication in the collective management of honeybees and their impact on the ecological health of Cuyahoga County, the Western Reserve, impact on the ecological health of Cuyahoga County, the Western Reserve, and Mother Earth as a whole.and Mother Earth as a whole.

• ““Making a Difference” - Making a Difference” -

• ““Queen Rearing Projects” – Improved Regional Adaption & GeneticsQueen Rearing Projects” – Improved Regional Adaption & Genetics

GCBA

• MembershipMembership

- ParticipationParticipation• MeetingsMeetings

• Field DayField Day

• Earth Fest Earth Fest

• etc.etc.

- MentoringMentoring• Help a NeighborHelp a Neighbor

- Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference

GCBA

What’s it all about !

is this a good or bad brood pattern ? bee biology…

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