THE BRITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1874
Registered Charity No. 212025
EXAMINATION FOR PROFICIENCY IN APICULTURE
MODULE 5 HONEYBEE BIOLOGY
24th March 2007
Time Allowed 1½ hours
Instructions to Candidates - Read the questions carefully. Answer All Sections
It is recommended not to spend more than 10 minutes on Section A,
50 minutes on Section B or 30 minutes on Section C.
Adhere strictly to the subject matter of the questions. Unless stated otherwise
Questions apply to Honeybees. Use only BLACK pen for text.
Black pencil may only be used for diagrams. DO NOT USE COLOURS.
SECTION A
(10 marks, 1 for each question)
Answer ALL the questions in this section. Use one or two word or short phrase answers.
Q1
The blood (haemolymph) of the bee is responsible
for supplying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide
from all of the living tissues of the body (True or False). ………………….……………………….
Q2
Digestion and absorption of food takes place
in the worker’s honey stomach (True or False). ……………………………………………….……
Q3
Name two functions of the bee’s antennae. …………………………………………………………
Q4
The proventriculus or honey stopper is capable of straining
American foulbrood (AFB) from the honey stomach of adult bees (True or False). …….…………
Q5
Drone honeybees store their sperm in an organ known as the
spermatheca until they mate with the queen (True or False). …………………….…………………
Q6
Worker honeybees have ………………………….. wax glands (A – 8, B – 4, C- 2, D – 10, E – 6)
Q7
The coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus are associated with the honeybee:
A Probosis
B Leg
C Antenna cleaner
……………………………..
D Pollen basket
E Sting apparatus
Q8
The central nervous system of the honeybee is composed of a brain
and seven ganglia at various junctions throughout the body (True or False). .………………….……
Q9
The adult honeybee heart is located in the dorsal part of the abdomen (True or False). ..………..…..
Q10
How many segments are there in the honeybee larval thorax? ……………………………………….
PLEASE HAND IN THIS SHEET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION
MODULE 5 HONEYBEE BIOLOGY
24th March 2007
SECTION B
(40 marks, 10 for each question)
Answer any FOUR questions from this section. Write short notes for your answers. Marks
Q11
Use the table provided to indicate which of the structures is present in the queen, worker
and/or drone.
10
Q12
Label the diagram of the exoskeleton of the worker honeybee provided.
10
Q13
(a)
(b)
(c)
List the possible content excreted in the faeces of an adult worker honeybee.
State the location, purpose and appearance of the malpighian tubules.
Describe how the malpighian tubules function.
3
2
4
Q14
(a)
(b)
List four external stimuli to which the honeybee responds.
Write brief notes on the sense organs involved in responding to the stimuli you
have listed.
2
Q15
State the physiological differences between summer and winter worker honeybees.
8
10
SECTION C
(25 marks)
Answer ONE question from this section. Give labelled diagrams where applicable.
Q16
Q17
(a)
(i)
(b)
The diagram provided shows the drone honeybee endophallus.
Label the parts indicated.
(ii)
Describe how sperm is produced and stored.
Describe with diagrams the structure of the egg.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Name three situations when the honeybee will expose it’s scent gland.
3
List the glands that make up the endocrine system.
4
Choose two of the endocrine glands and write brief notes on their location and purpose. 8
Outline how the endocrine system functions within a honeybee larva.
10
7
7
11
MODULE 5 HONEYBEE BIOLOGY
24th March 2007
Q11
Use the table below to indicate which of the structures is present in the queen, worker and/or drone.
Queen
Worker
Drone
Mandibular Gland
Corbiculum or pollen basket
Sting
Spermatheca
Nassanoff gland
Hypopharangeal or brood food
glands
Wax glands
Antenna cleaner
Arnhart gland
Omatidia
PLEASE HAND IN THIS SHEET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION
MODULE 5 HONEYBEE BIOLOGY
24th March 2007
Q12
Label the diagram of the exoskeleton of the worker honeybee below.
PLEASE HAND IN THIS SHEET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION
MODULE 5 HONEYBEE BIOLOGY
24th March 2007
Q16a The diagram below shows the drone honeybee endophallus. Label the parts indicated
PLEASE HAND IN THIS SHEET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION