Buzzing Around: The Perennial Life-Cycle of the Western Honeybee Colony

BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣 BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣 BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣 BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣 BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣 BUZZING AROUND the perennial life-cycle of the western honeybee colony Genus: Apis mellifera Hive Size The European honeybee, or Western honeybee, apis mellifera comes from the Latin "apis" meaning bee, as well as "melli", meaning honey, and "ferre" meaning to carry. The scientific name means honey bearing bee. The bee is regarded by many 100,000 BMW on average 104.342 80,000 cultures to be sacred. Dell The population of a healthy Computers 95.000 hive in mid-summer can range 60,000 QUEEN: the only fertile female of the colony, she mates with the drones and then lays and fertilizes eggs. Chrysler between 40,000 to 80,000 Charleston, SC 96.650 worker bees. This formidable 40,000 Microsoft workforce compares to several DRONE: stingless males that only live to mate with the queen, which is done in Sprint major corporations, and even 20,000 Scranton, PA Morgan Staniey 76.415 flight, that die once this task is finished. Goldman Sachs some major U.S. cities. 30.335 Daytona Beach, FL WORKER: undeveloped females who perform almost every complex task in the colony aside from reproduction. average colony u.s. city company Brood Development 3 Stages of colony life occurs in a part of the hive known as the "Brood Chamber" The iconic hexagonal shape often referred to as a "honeycomb" or "comb" is what is known, individually, as a celI. The cells collectively form the the structure often referred to as the comb. Cells are used for a variety of uses, including storing pollen, nectar, and honey, as well as functioning as an incubation chamber for the queen to lay her eggs. SWARMING Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called swarming. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a 2-3 week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED day days 0-3 days days days 3-7 8-15 16+ QUEEN NESTING EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE CAPPED days days 3-9.5 day days 10-24 days 24+ 0-3 10 DRONE Nesting involves laying eggs, rearing a new brood, and taking care of matters that occur inside the nest. Tending the queen, feeding, storing pollen and nectar, and repairing the hive are all important aspects of nesting. EGG LARVAE CELL PUPA EMERGENCE days 0-3 САPPED day 9. days 9-20 days days 21+ 3-8 WORKER FORAGING Eggs are placed by the queen bee in Larvae live to eat. they are fed copious amounts of food Nurse bees cover the opening of a larvae's cell with wax, capping them inside. Cell Pupa chew their way out of the cocoons that their cells and begin they spin when they are fulfilling their specific cell-capped larvae. The pupa stage is the last stage of development before emergence into adulthood. Adults emerge from hexagonal frames called 'brood comb'. roles in the cast. While by nurse bees for days. The quality The size of the cell queens and drones capping serves as a means of hibernation or cocooning Older workers will leave the hive at a and amount of food and determines the type of bee that will mature and develop. carry out invariably the same tasks, workers change duties as they increase in age. certain age to begin their duties as hive foragers. Their tasks involve finding viable sources of nectar and pollen for larvae receive depends largely on what type of bee it will become. the hive, physically acquiring these resources, and returning with them to the hive. Once returned to the nest, they are placed in combs and sealed away for future uses. AGE-RELATED TASKS of workers INSIDE THE NEST OUTSIDE THE NEST second half of life first half of life task cell cleaning nurse bee duties wax production/cell building/storage ventilating guarding foraging days 1-2 3 - 11 12 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 35 36 - 45+ Nurse bees feed larvae royal jelly for the first 3 days of their life, then they are switched to a diet nectar or diluted bees forage for nectar and pollen once they reach a certain age, performing this task for the rest of their lives. Foragers collect pollen and description Cells must be cleaned young workers begin to secrete wax which is worker bees ventilate the honey, which before they can be used again for raising brood. The will evaporating enough water content from the collected nectar so that it reaches workers that are old enough are left to defend the hive from predators, invading insects, and even bees from other colonies. used to build and repair the cells of the comb. at this age, they are also old enough to tend the queen, bringing her food almost hourly queen inspects them and if they are not satisfactory, they will be cleaned again before used. honey and pollen. Royal jelly speeds up the necessary consistency to becom honey. Nectar is first evaporated on the bee's Guards will inspect bees from other colonies to determine if they are friendly enough to growth and ovary development, and a select few larvae are raised in special nectar, with the flower nectar being converted to honey. It is and constantly checking on her. Pollen is also brought to the nest for feeding the brood, and this pollen is stored in cells with a small amount of honey so it doesn't spoil. bees are this stage are often seen around the interior of the hive checking for weaknesses, repairing tongue, and then stored in comb cells. Here it is fanned by the rapid beating of enter the hive. sometimes foraging bees from other colonies will attept to steal resources "queen cups" on an excessive diet of royal jelly to be bred as future queens. transported in a special "honey wings until enough water has evaporated from the nectar that it reaches the from another hive. this behavior usually only stomach" and converted to honey through digestive enzymes and occurs when natural resources are sparse. consistency of 18% water, becoming honey. stored in honeycomb where it is partially dehydrated. what needs to be fixed, and handling a lot of the storage of food. 廣