Is this a Good or Bad Brood Pattern ?

1. Bee Biology….. Is this a Good or Bad Brood Pattern ?

2. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Queen • Mates when 6 – 8 days old • Mates while flying (8 – 12 ft above ground) • Mates on multiple days & with multiple drones (if present) • Diverse Drone Populations are better (genetic diversity) • Mates when weather condition is acceptable (rainy days affect success) • Properly mated queens are fertilized with over 5 million sperm • Commercially raised queens (Dr David Tarpy) • 81% - fertilized with less than 5 million sperm • 19% - fertilized with less than 3 million • Pheromones, Chemical Substances & Worker Bee Activity • Avg. eggs/day = 1200 to 1800 (Spring & Early Summer) • Avg. Reproductive Life Span 1 – 2 yrs. • Avg. Life Span (Subspecies influence) 3 – 5 yrs

3. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Queen Cells • Supercedure Cells

4. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Queen - Reproductive Anatomy

5. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Drone - develops from unfertilized egg • Male (fertile) • No Pollen Basket • No Honey sac • No Stinger • No Hive Duties • Mates w/virgin queen while flying • Dies • Non Mating – Avg. life cycle = ? Note Eye Color !

6. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Worker – develops from fertilized egg • Female (infertile) • Newly Emerged 2-10 days • Worker 11 – 20 days • Foragers 21 days - DOA • Avg. life cycle = 4 to 6 weeks • Glands – Royal Jelly • Pollen baskets • 4 pr wax glands – underside of abdomen • Honey Sac • Stinger

7. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Worker • Royal Jelly • Secreted from • hypopharyngeal glands in head • Fed to all bee larvae • First 3 days – Workers & Drones • All days – Queen • Active component – “Royalactin” • a single protein, responsible for queen development

8. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Worker • Specialization/Responsibilities

9. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Color recognition to a Bee

10. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Color recognition • What a Bee sees

11. HoneyBee Life Cycle – • Communication between Bees • Foragers communicate their floral findings: • 2 Theorems • The “waggle dance” theory • 1947 - Karl Von Frisch • 1973 received Nobel Prize • (Physiology/Medicine) • The “odor plume” theory (Adrian Wenner)

12. State Law Ohio Revised Code – 909.01 to 909.18 Register with the Dept of Agriculture (ODA) $5 per Apiary Location ODA supports County Inspectors Cuyahoga County Appoints Apiary Inspector - Annual Inspections sent to ODA – Annual Apiaries Registered - 177 Colonies - 471 Cities in Cuyahoga County ordinances Apiaries Allowed w/Restrictions Brook Park – No All Others – Yes City of Cleveland requires registration Apiary Registration

13. Apiary Registration

14. Apiary Registration

16. Seasonal Management • 30% of Ohio Bee Colonies died over 2010/2011 winter • How to improve your odds? • Study Best Practices - leverage your experience & what works for you • Embrace Apiculture Management Tools • Classes • Techniques & Skills • Mentors • Ask Questions • Keep a Journal • Study - Study - Study • Join GCBA • Attend Conferences

17. GCBA • Membership • Advantages • Experienced & Knowledgeable Beekeepers ( 100+ yrs combined ) • A deep caring and concern for the fragility of the Honeybee population • Profound dedication in the collective management of honeybees and their impact on the ecological health of Cuyahoga County, the Western Reserve, and Mother Earth as a whole. • “Making a Difference” - • “Queen Rearing Projects” – Improved Regional Adaption & Genetics

18. GCBA • Membership • Participation • Meetings • Field Day • Earth Fest • etc. • Mentoring • Help a Neighbor • Annual Conference

19. What’s it all about !