A Bee C’s of Beekeeping Presenters: Tasha Mitchell Andy Todd Cast of Characters Three types of Honey bees Worker Drone Queen There can be up to 60,000 bees in healthy hive. It’s important to know the different types, their characteristics, and their responsibilities. Worker Bee The unsung heroes Life span is only 6 of the hive weeks during Make up the active season. majority of the hive Specific jobs and All workers are duties vary based female on their age. Perform many jobs in and outside of the hive. Worker Bee From egg-larva-pupa till emerging takes 21 days. The first 3 days of larva stage they are fed royal jelly, then switched to bee bread (Pollen and honey) Difference in Worker and Queen Worker Queen Smaller in size Stinger is smooth Abdomens are rather than barbed shorter Rarely stings Has pollen baskets Lays fertilized eggs Worker Bee (House Bees) First 3 weeks of their life is spent as house bees. As they are born they clean their cells to prepare it for new eggs. Undertaker bees-Remove the dead as well as dirt and other matter. Use propolis (bee glue) to seal cracks etc. Worker Bees (House Bees) Nurse bees tend to the eggs and larvae. Feed larvae a mixture of pollen and honey, and royal jelly. Check brood up to 1,300 times a day. Queens attendance groom, feed, and remove excrement from the queen. Coax her to lay eggs. Worker Bees (House Bees) Honey makers: Take nectar from foraging bees and deposit into cells. Add an enzyme to the nectar and fan cells to evaporate water from nectar and turn into honey. Also take pollen from forages and place in cell. Both pollen and honey used as food. Worker Bees (House Bees) After about 12 days worker bees are able to produce bees wax. Wax is used to build comb Wax is also used to cap the honey. Worker Bees (House Bees) Guard Bees- last task of the house bee before venturing from the hive. Sting glands have developed enough to have right amount of venom Guard entrance of the hive checking bees as they come in for familiar scent. Only family members allowed! Other bees, wasps, hornets are driven away or attacked. Worker Bees (Field Bees) Last and perhaps most important job of the worker bee. Leaves hive to forage for nectar and pollen. Dangerous job, food for birds, swatted or stepped on by humans, caught out in the rain or cold. Drones A drone is an unfertilized egg. The only male in the colony Make up a very small percentage of the hive. Does not have a stinger Drones From egg-larva-pupa-emerging takes 24 days which is the longest out of the 3. Also is fed royal jelly for 3 days then switched to bee bread. Drone VS. Queen Drone Queen Rounded end like Pointed end a bullet Abdomen in longer Very large eyes meant for queen watching Drone Doesn’t forage Doesn’t defend the hive Doesn’t produce wax What is it’s job?? To mate with a Queen! Drones Drone sex organs are barbed and torn away after mating. Once weather is cooler and mating season is over, workers no longer tolerate freeloading drones. Drones are given an eviction notice from hive Must preserve food as much as possible Unable to feed or defend themselves, Drones die outside of the hive. Her Royal Highness The Queen! Only 1 queen to a hive Very important to a hive. Without a queen, your hive will eventually die out. Can live 2 or more years Keep eye out for a failing queen. Producing less eggs = weak hive. Queen Bee Cycle from egg, larva, to pupa to emerging is 16 days. The shortest of the 3. Unlike worker and drone, the Queen is only fed Royal Jelly. Queen Bee Virgin queen before going on her mating flight. Will take one or more mating flights over the course of a few days and then done for a life time. Will mate with up to 20 drones Stores the sperm and fertilizes eggs as she lays them. Fertilized egg ( Worker) Unfertilized(drone) Mating occurs outside of hive 200 to 300 feet in the air Many beekeepers mark their queens so they are easy to spot. Queen Bee Queen has 2 primary purposes. Produces chemical scents (pheromones)to help regulate the unity of the colony, signals them to forage, build comb, etc. As she ages, pheromones weaken, which can signal bees to supersede. Lays eggs! Lots of them. Can lay more than 1,500 eggs a day. Queen Bee If hive feels the queen is failing they will create another queen This rival queen will attempt to overthrow the old queen Old queen will often kill new queen before she emerges from cell. Game of Thrones anyone!! A Bee C’s of Beekeeping Best Practices Presented by: Andy Todd When? Start as early as possible Catching Swarms Installing Packages and Nucs Where? Full sun is best Keep your neighbors in mind Bees Need to Forage Where cont.. Consider the type of hive stand you need Bees need a water source How? Don’t forget, safety first Slow, steady movements Sure thing in beekeeping…you will get stung Don’t panic…move away from hive. How cont… Avoid working bees on chilly, windy, cloudy days. Work from side or back of the hive. Tips and Tricks 2nd sure thing in beekeeping….your bees will die. Join a local beekeeping club Don’t over or under check your bees. Tips and Tricks cont.. Have extra equipment ready Find a mentor Have a goal in mind Be ready to adapt and change.