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A Trip Into the Hive. Brian VanIwarden. Parts of the Hive. Frame w/ wax foundation. On average there are about 50k bees in a hive during the summer. Honey Super. Brood in comb. Hive Entrance. Brood Chamber “Deep”. Types of Honey Bees. There are approx. 25k different species of bees.
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A Trip Into the Hive Brian VanIwarden
Parts of the Hive Frame w/ wax foundation On average there are about 50k bees in a hive during the summer Honey Super Brood in comb Hive Entrance Brood Chamber “Deep”
Types of Honey Bees There are approx. 25k different species of bees Female- 21 days to hatch. Lives for 6 weeks in the summer. 3 months in winter. Why? Male- takes 24 days to hatch. Lives for two weeks. Takes care of larva & collects pollen to produce honey. Female- 16 days to hatch. Same DNA as a worker. Lives 2-3 years. Needed to fertilize a virgin queen. Are only found during the summer months.
Queens Same DNA as a worker, but fed a very nutrient rich diet of “Royal Jelly” in the larva stage. Have one nuptial flight after emergence. Mate with multiple drones. Control the bees with pheromone unique to the hive. Lay approximately 2000 eggs/day. Do not lay during the winter.
Life Cycle Queen lays eggs in the comb. Eggs are fed & hatch into a larva Larva pupates into an adult bee Bees do not hibernate (cluster). Will become active if temps reach 60 ͦ F
Swarming Because of overcrowding, Supercedure cells are laid by the queen before the swarm leaves Can also be drawn out if the queen dies A swarm
Pollen/Nectar Visit flowers within a two mile radius Pollen is digested & regurgitated into honey & wax It takes 250k flowers = 1 ounce of honey 6 lbs of honey = 1 lb wax Stored Pollen Waggle dance to indicate the direction to a food source Can fly up to 15 mph
Honey Flavor is unique to flower source Only food that won’t spoil 7k miles flown/oz 1 bee makes ½ tsp honey 1 gal=to a trip to the moon
Threats • CCD • Fear • Mites • Disease • Animals • Pesticides • Drought/Rain • Diminishing Farm Land 30% colony loss is normal each winter
Importance of Bees 1/3 of all foods (3/4 of all plants) are pollinated by bees • Pollination • Honey Production • Medicinal 1 million hives are needed to pollinate crops each year Allergies