Apiculture

Apiculture is the management and study of honeybees.

The Honeybee (Apis mellifera )

Bee castes (types) in the hive

The Queen Bee Only One Largest with Lays up to 3000 long abdomen eggs per day Pheremones to control hive Lives 2 to 8 years The Queen Bee Fed Royal jelly Smooth stinger used many times

Close-up of Queen Bee Stinger

The Drone Killed or left to die after mating All male No Stingers Short Heavy The Drone Larger eyes / antenna Mate with queen A few 100

Worker Bee Live 6 weeks Up to 50000 All female Do ALL work Corbiculum on hind legs Straight barbed stingers Worker Bee Wax glands on stomach Two types Extra stomach House Bees Field Bees

Close-up of Worker Bee Stinger

Corbiculum close-up

Wax Glands close-up

Equipment Protective Suit

Smoker

Hive Tool

Honey Extractor

Bee Hive

Bee Hive

SWARMING A new honey bee colony is formed when the Queen Bee leaves the colony with a large group of workers, a process called SWARMING About 60% of the worker bees leave the original hive location with the old queen. Swarming is mainly a seasonal event, and can happen throughout the producing season Swarming results in a) the formation of new colonies b) increase in the population of bees

Importance of Bees Pollination Honey Propolis Beeswax Bee Bread Royal Jelly Bee Venom

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