Colony organization

BEE COLONY

A HONEY BEE COLONY CONSISTS OF A QUEEN

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS

HUNDREDS OF DRONES

Differential characters in different casteCharacters Queen Worker Drone

1. Sex Fully developed fertile female

Imperfect sterile female Fully developed fertile male

2. Size Largest in size (double the size of worker)

Smaller than drone Slightly bigger than worker but smaller than queen

3. Colour Reddish, shinning, Reddish colour Darker in colour

4. Abdomen Pointed (V shaped) distended long abdomen

Pointed (V shaped) barbed abdomen

Black rounded or semi spherical abdomen

5. Thorax Broad Short Broad

6. Proboscis Short Long, well developed Short

7. Ovipositor Well developed sword ovipositor

Ovipositor is modified into stinging organ

No ovipositor or no stinging structure

8. Wing Shorter wings Length of wings touches the end of abdomen

Wings completely cover the abdomen

9.EyeNo.of facetes

Normal (eyes far apart)3000-4000

Normal (eyes far apart)4000-5000

Eyes meet overhead 8000

10. Pollen basket

Absent Present on third pair of leg Absent

11.Wax glands

Absent Present on 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th abdominal segments

Absent

12.Longevity 3 years 6-24 weeks 6-8 weeks

13. Food supply Dependent on workers Not dependent Dependent on workers

ROLE OF QUEEN

Regulates life in the hive and acts as the leader of the colony

Young queens are preferred over old ones

Lays 700-1000 eggs per day as per the requirement

It is fed royal jelly and is guarded by a few worker bee

Longevity : Three years

Nuptial flight takes place within 5-9 days after emergence

Development takes place within queen cell within 16days

• Queen mandibular substance :- It inhibit the ovary development in workers. (9 0 DA): 9-keto-(E)-2-decenoic acid

• (9 0DA): 9-hydrons-(E)-2-decenoic acid. Probably the queen enhance work on the hormonal system of worker and suppress the development of ovaries.

Fertilization of eggs takes place in the vagina, as the egg passes the

opening of spermathecal duct. The muscle in the spermathecal duct regulates the release of spermatozoa stored in it.

The egg laying capacity of the queen varies from 500 eggs/day is South India plain to 1000 in Indian Hill area.

The queen will start egg laying little above the centre of a comb and eggs are land in concentric ring.

ROLE OF WORKER BEE

Worker bees• During first three days after emergence the worker bees remain

busy in brood area where they regulate the temperature up to 33.5oC.

• These bees are responsible for maintaining the hygiene of the colony.

• They act as nurse bees and feed honey and pollen to older larvae when they are about 4 days old.

• These nurse bees when 6 to 12 days old, secrete royal jelly from their mandibular glands which is used to feed the larvae destined to become queens.

• Again the duties change with age when the worker bees are of 14 days age, the wax glands develop and they start secreting wax to build combs. During this period, the bees may do any other activity as per the requirement of the colony.

• The worker bees start taking orientation flights during second week of their life to acquaint themselves with vicinity of hive. T

• he worker bees become foragers at the age of about 21 days after emergence.

• In general, first three weeks of workers life involve indoor duties and last three weeks outdoor duties.

Drone

The drones are perfectly developed male and their only function is to mate with the queen.

Drones are reared and tolerated during the breeding season in spring, when new queens are to be mated. They are driven out of the hive to die of starvation when not needed.

The normal life span of drone is about 6-8weeks.

Generally it takes 3-6 worker bees to feed a drone.