Honey Bee Biology
Adapted from Dr. Dewey Caron
PowerPoint
What’s in a name?
• Classification system
Kingdom - Animal
Phylum
2 of interest are..
Chordata – backboned vertebrate animals
- includes humans
Arthropoda – jointed limbed invertebrates
that possess an exoskeleton - includes insects
What’s in a name?
• Classification system
Kingdom - Animal
Phylum - Arthropoda
Shared Arthropod characteristics are….
1. Segmented bodies of 2/3 regions
2. Paired segmented appendages
3. Exoskeleton
4. Bilateral symmetry
5. Central alimentary tube
6. Open circulatory system
7. Sexual reproduction
What’s in a name?
• Classification system
Kingdom - Animal
Phylum - Arthropoda
Class
Several Arthropod classes…Class insecta have..
1. 3 body regions
2. One pair antennae
3. Three pairs of legs
4. 1 or 2 pairs of wings usually
What’s in a name?
• Classification system
Kingdom - Animal
Phylum - Arthropoda
Class - Insecta
Order
30 + Insect orders – 5 largest are...
1. Coleoptera = beetles
2. Lepidoptera = butterflies & moths
3. Hymenoptera = bees, wasps & ants
4. Diptera = flies
5. Heteroptera = bugs, aphids, etc
Insect Sociality
• EUSOCIAL
– Cooperative care of young
• Pheromones or trophyllaxis
– Reproductive division of labor
• Caste system
– Overlap of generations caring for young
• Often elaborate/defended nests
The 3 adults - Queen
Reproductive female
2 functions
1. Lay eggs
2. Produce chemicals
Bk Educ Service Photo
The three adults - Drone
Male sex – not caste
Mate with new queen
(= virgins)
Perhaps contribute to
“normalcy”?
Hive Bee “Work”
• Includes…
– cleaning
– nursing
– nectar ripening
& honey storage
- pack pollen
- secrete wax
- guarding
What is a Honey Bee?
• Answer … one of three adult forms each
with own tasks (Division of labor)
queen honey bee, worker honey bee
drone honey bee
What is a Honey Bee?
►Answer ….. one of three adult forms each
with own tasks (Division of labor)
►Answer ..... worker bees who perform different
tasks according to age and gland development
Hive bees such as cleaning worker bee, nurse bee,
nectar ripening bee, wax secreting bee, guard bee
Field bees foraging for nectar/pollen/water/propolis
BUT ALSO……
… one of three development stages
(=brood)
Bee Brood Summary
Figure 4-9
Sex/Caste Differentiation
Fertilized egg
Unfertilized egg
Fertilized egg
Heavy feeding
of royal jelly
Heavy feeding of
brood food, then
honey, and pollen
Light feeding of
brood food, then
honey, and pollen
Queen ovaries
Worker ovaries
Cornell collection
Communication
•
•
Honey bees eusocial
Prof von Frisch
discovered their
communication basics
• A bee discovers a food
source….
she returns home to
tell her sisters
where it is, how far, &
how good !
Round Dance
Quick short steps
in narrow circles
On beeswax comb
Food close
Odor & taste clues
Richness clues
Wagtail Dance
Bee makes ½
circle, straight
run while waggling
Abdomen then ½
circle again
Distance
Direction
Odor & taste clues
Richness clues