39 Insightful Publications
In this simulation, the external features of the honeybee are studied. The experimental details are as follows:
Preserved honeybee specimens are observed under the naked eye and their morphological details are documented.
Introduction to the Honeybee: Honey bee is a social insect which belongs to the phylum Arthropoda. Ecologically they play a significant role in cross-pollination, they are of high economic importance because they produce honey which is a very good nutrient source and the bee wax has many industrial applications.
The morphological details of the honeybee are as follows:
- Honeybee exhibits three morphological forms: Queen, workers and drones.
- The common morphology present in all forms are:
- The body is divided into 3 distinct parts: head, thorax and abdomen.
- The head is triangular and consists of a pair of large compound eyes placed dorsolaterally, three small ocelli are present dorsally between the eyes. Mouth parts are present on the ventrally.
- Thorax consists of three segments: prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax, each of which consists of a pair of jointed legs. Two pairs of wings are present dorsally in the segments of the mesothorax and metathorax.
- The abdomen is six-segmented, this part is separated from the thorax by a very narrow region.
- Apart from the common features, the distinct elements present in the forms are as follows:
- Worker honeybees, which are infertile females, are the smallest in size. The abdominal part bears wax glands and in the last segment sting is present. Structures called pollen-collecting baskets are present in the thoracic legs.
- Queen honey, which is a fertile female bee, is the largest in size and is present singly in a colony. The abdomen part is long and tapering. Wings, legs, and eyes are small. The wax gland is absent.
- Drones are males which are larger than worker honeybees but smaller than the Queen. The drone’s eyes are very large and wax glands are absent.
The common Indian species are Apis dorsata, Apis indica and Apis florae, among these Apis dorsata is the largest and Apis florae is the smallest.
FAQs on External Features of Honeybee
Which form in the morphology of honey bees involves pollination and making wax?
Worker honeybees do all the work in the hive, including feeding and collecting pollen and nectar. Since pollen is collected from flowers, it plays a significant role in pollination. Four abdominal segments in the posterior region bear wax glands ventrally; hence, worker honeybees are also involved in making wax.
Describe the queen honeybee.
The queen honeybee is a fertile female and the largest honeybee in the colony, measuring nearly 15–20 mm in size. Each colony has a single queen honey bee. Its abdomen is long and tapering, with small wings. Its eyes are small, and the abdominal segments do not bear wax glands. Though the queen honeybee has a stinger, it rarely stings humans.
What are pollen baskets with reference to honeybees?
The tibiae of the hindlimbs of the worker honey bee carry a special apparatus called the pollen baskets, which enable the honeybee to carry pollen into the hive.
Mention the scientific names for common Indian honey bee species.
The common Indian honeybee species include Apis dorsata, Apis indica, and Apis florea. Among these, Apis florea is the smallest.
What is an antenna cleaner with reference to honeybees?
The forelimbs contain a circular notch called an antenna cleaner, with which the honeybees clean their antennae. The honey bee labelled diagram in the simulation shows the antenna cleaner clearly.
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