Science
For a worker bee, the division of labor is decided by age. Most workers live between four and six weeks. Here’s their chore list, according to UNCC’s Stan Schneider:
Duties of Worker Bees
1-2 days - Cleans cells and keeps the brood warm
3-5 days - Feeds older larvae
6-11 days - Feeds youngest larvae
12-17 days - Produces wax, Builds comb, Carries food, Undertaker duties
18-21 days - Guards the hive entrance
22+ days - Flying from hive begins, Pollinates plants, Collects pollen, nectar and water.
It is imperative to recall that nobody really knows what genetic consequences bees may suffer owing to their exposure to agro-chemicals now in use. Nectar and pollen contaminated with them may trigger genetic changes in drones and queen bees, which in turn lead to serious dysfunctions in the generations of bees that spring from them. Lal Manavado, University of Oslo affiliate, Norway
Bees communicate to each other through enthusiastic dances involving intricate, shimmying figure-of-eight patterns, and through rubbing antennae. They pass on information such as where the food source is, how worthwhile it is, what it tastes like, and they may even give out samples. Bees are very clever at balancing whether the quantity of energy to go to a particular spot is worthwhile for the amount of food brought back versus the quantity of energy to do a similar task in another [nearer] spot (Eric Tourneret)
10. RFID tags are being used to save honey bees
Thousands of honey bees around the world could soon be carrying tiny RFID backpacks as part of a "swarm sensing" experiment (The Sydney Morning Herald). The project hopes to get a unique perspective on the cause of the alarming rate of honey bee deaths. Headed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the backpacks include a range of sensors to help better understand factors affecting bee mortality rates.
The methodology that we use is that we can actually track individual bees in the landscape by attaching a small antennae – a transponder – on their back, which can then be visualised by a harmonic radar system
- Days 1-2: Clean all cells and get them ready for the queen to lay her eggs.
- Days 3-13: Nurse and provide other nanny services for all larvae.
- Days 14-27: Factory work: Turn nectar into honey; produce wax for the honeycomb; address any nest maintenance repairs.
- Day 28- death: Forage for pollen and nectar to bring back to the colony.
Duties of Worker Bees
1-2 days - Cleans cells and keeps the brood warm
3-5 days - Feeds older larvae
6-11 days - Feeds youngest larvae
12-17 days - Produces wax, Builds comb, Carries food, Undertaker duties
18-21 days - Guards the hive entrance
22+ days - Flying from hive begins, Pollinates plants, Collects pollen, nectar and water.
It is imperative to recall that nobody really knows what genetic consequences bees may suffer owing to their exposure to agro-chemicals now in use. Nectar and pollen contaminated with them may trigger genetic changes in drones and queen bees, which in turn lead to serious dysfunctions in the generations of bees that spring from them. Lal Manavado, University of Oslo affiliate, Norway
Bees communicate to each other through enthusiastic dances involving intricate, shimmying figure-of-eight patterns, and through rubbing antennae. They pass on information such as where the food source is, how worthwhile it is, what it tastes like, and they may even give out samples. Bees are very clever at balancing whether the quantity of energy to go to a particular spot is worthwhile for the amount of food brought back versus the quantity of energy to do a similar task in another [nearer] spot (Eric Tourneret)
10. RFID tags are being used to save honey bees
Thousands of honey bees around the world could soon be carrying tiny RFID backpacks as part of a "swarm sensing" experiment (The Sydney Morning Herald). The project hopes to get a unique perspective on the cause of the alarming rate of honey bee deaths. Headed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the backpacks include a range of sensors to help better understand factors affecting bee mortality rates.
The methodology that we use is that we can actually track individual bees in the landscape by attaching a small antennae – a transponder – on their back, which can then be visualised by a harmonic radar system