Honeybee Biology
Studying honeybee biology has its practical place in society, since the world's agricultural proliferation is largely dependent upon the pollination efforts of these tiny insects.
With the recent mysterious history of dwindling populations, scientists have stepped up their efforts to study the honey bee for clues as to the cause of this phenomenon and how it can be stopped.Click here for information about disappearing beesHoneybee biology lends itself to a fascinating social structure that has been admired for centuries. Their strict adherence to the roles that they are born into is what helps the honeybee survive. From their metamorphosis to their most sophisticated daily lives, understanding honeybee biology gives rich insight into the ways in which these insects exist and keep our agricultural systems thriving. Click here to see the different roles Honey Bees haveEven with a unique social structure and a complex set of roles, the basic anatomy is the same for all honey bees. Minor differences do exist however. For instance, drones are reproduced sans fertilization and do not have stingers, and female worker bees are unable to reproduce at all. Drones also tend to be larger than workers and queen bees can be larger than both.
As for their body structure, regardless of their role, the honeybee's anatomy consists of three main body parts, which are as follows:- Head - This is where the honey bee's eyes, mouth and antennae are found.
- The honeybee has five eyes. The first two, known as compound eyes, consist of thousands of different cells, which help the bee see color and light, and also receive direction from the sun's rays (helpful in finding food).
- The remaining three eyes appear in a triangular shape on the bee's head and help the bee determine how much light is in their environment.
- The antenna helps the honeybee detect odors and acts as an odometer to measure speed while in flight.
- The honeybee's mouth consists of a jaw, also called a mandible, and a tongue, which is called a proboscis.
- Thorax - The thorax is where the honeybee's legs and wings are located.
- The forewing is the largest on the honeybee and it functions as a personal cooling system, as well as assists in flight.
- The hindwing can also be used in flight and is sometimes attached to the honey bee's forewings by hamuli (hooks), which enable both pairs of wings to beat at the same time.
- The hindwings are also used by worker bees to cool the hive.
- Also located on the thorax are hairy legs that are used to carry pollen and a resin from trees known as propolis.
- Abdomen - The abdomen consists of seven different segments, which contain the honey bee's reproductive organs and the stinger on the worker bee and the queen bee.
- The stinger is made of muscles, which are supported by hard plates. It is connected to a poison-producing gland. When the stinger is used, it is left in the victim's body and, upon disengaging, the bee's abdomen is ruptured and the honey bee dies.
Whether feared or revered, bees are a necessary part of our environment. Knowledge of basic honeybee biology is not only interesting, but also gives beekeepers valuable insight on how to best care for colonies as a hobby or for reasons of pollinating commercial crops. Even for the layperson, however, honeybee biology is an interesting study and offers a glimpse into the complex bee societies that these creatures thrive in.
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