The main functions of a queen bee in a bee family - why do you need a queen

The bee family is a kind of insect community, closely interconnected and performing certain functions. A special place in the bee colony is occupied by the queen bee, the main purpose of which is the continuation of the genus and the maintenance of high vital activity of young offspring.

What does a queen bee look like?

It is easy enough to identify the queen bee among the bees, because she is noticeably different from other insects in the hive. This is a female bee, which differs from other individuals not only in its larger size, but also in its fully developed reproductive organs.

The dimensions of the queen bee are 22-25 mm, the average body weight of the fetal individual is 200-330 mg, while the infertile one is not more than 180-230 mg.

What does a queen bee look like?:

1. The body structure of the uterus is identical to that of a worker bee, but it is about 2.5-3 times larger.
2. The queen bee has well-developed ovaries that produce strong and stable eggs.
3. The main female has a sting that is hidden in the extended posterior half of the body. She uses it to kill other queen bees. Unlike worker bees, the queen does not die after releasing the stinger.
4. The proboscis of a queen bee is 2 times shorter than that of a working individual. Also, her wax glands do not function - due to this, she cannot collect pollen and build honeycombs.
5. The queen bee lays at least 1500-1700 eggs per day.
6. The main female leaves the hive only for mating or swarming.
7. The life expectancy of a queen bee is up to 5 years.

A distinctive feature of the queen bee is the unusual color and shape of the abdomen, resembling an elongated and pointed torpedo, noticeably protruding beyond the line of the wings.

How to find a queen bee in a hive

The question of how to quickly find a queen bee in a hive does not cause difficulties for experienced beekeepers. The fetal queen is always in the very center of the hive, surrounded by other bees. They provide the female with royal jelly and care for her.

It is much more difficult to find an infertile queen bee, since it moves very quickly through the hive, moving along the combs. The fertile female is much slower, she practically does not budge.

The main functions of a queen bee in a bee family and its purpose

The queen bee is considered the real "queen of the hive", because she performs extremely important functions. She alone is "responsible" for the continuation of the genus, laying eggs daily. It is on the productivity of the queen bee that the viability and number of offspring depends, and in the future - the entire bee colony.

Despite the huge size of the bee colony, only the queen can lay eggs, since worker bees have poorly developed genitals. They are only responsible for collecting pollen, nectar and building honeycombs.

After a few years, the reproductive capacity of the queen bee decreases, she lays a significantly smaller number of eggs, from which mainly drones appear. During this period, beekeepers replace the queen bee.

In addition, the uterus performs another, no less important function - it unites the bee swarm. The female secretes a specific uterine substance that other insects cannot produce.

The mother substance is evenly distributed among all members of the bee colony, so that all individuals have the same smell. This allows the bees to distinguish "outsiders". When bees they cease to feel the substance secreted by the queen bee, they begin to panic chaos, the desire to work disappears.

The development cycle of the queen bee

The development of the "queen of the hive" is similar to the development of a working bee, with the difference that throughout the entire period its larvae receive the maximum amount of royal jelly.

Development cycle of the queen bee:

• during the first 2 days, the egg is located in the mother's womb, after which it moves into a special bowl;
• after 2 days, the egg comes out and begins to actively feed it with royal jelly;
• after 7 days, the egg is immersed back into the bowl, where it matures to the state of a pupa;
• on the 16th day, after being in a puppet state, an infertile queen bee emerges.

4 days after leaving, the queen bee is already completely ready to continue the genus - she begins to fly around the hive and flies out of it in search of drones, which go after her, having felt the pheromones. After 9-10 days, the female lays the first eggs.

It is strictly forbidden to disturb the hive during the mating period of the queen bee. It flies off a fairly long distance, but does not orient itself at all in the terrain. As a result of the fright, the uterus will not be able to return to the hive and will die.

If necessary, it is best to disturb the hive only until 11 o'clock in the morning, acting carefully and carefully. Do not use smoke products and other substances that have an aggressive, irritating effect on the bee colony.

Despite the fact that the average life expectancy of a queen bee is 5 years, most often beekeepers replace it in the 2-3rd year, as its reproductive functions begin to decline rapidly.

Ways to remove the queen bee

The queen bee is hatched naturally and artificially. In the first case, the bees themselves build a queen cell, where the main female lays an egg. For the appearance of the uterus, the larva throughout the entire period of development is fed only with royal jelly containing a complex of hormonal substances.

Technology of artificial removal of the uterus:

• the beekeeper takes out the female together with the open brood from the hive;
• after that, the lower half of the honeycomb is cut;
• the queen cells are cut out and placed in the hive, the queen bee is returned to its place.

To obtain a strong and fertile dominant individual, it is very important to comply with all breeding conditions. In the mother liquors, the temperature should be maintained at least + 32 ° С, the humidity level should be within 80-90%.

Replacement of the queen bee

The bee colony instantly reacts to the death of its queen. Insects begin to fly quickly and chaotically, make noise. The replacement of the main female is carried out in two ways - the bees can independently replace the queen, or the beekeeper artificially implants a new queen in the hive. This must be done no later than 11-12 hours after the death of the old queen.

How is queen bee self-replacement carried out?:

1. The bee colony should be divided into 2 identical parts (one should be with the queen), choosing 6 frames with dry land. Separation is carried out after one day of sowing. In the half in which the uterus is absent, insects will independently lay it from the larvae. When the young queen is strong enough and the family gets used to her, both parts need to be connected. The new queen will itself destroy the old individual.
2. Replacement by damaging the queen - the beekeeper artificially damages the queen. After some time, the bee colony independently destroys the queen and brings out a new one.

The queen bee is a unique insect that plays a fundamental role in the hive. It is the queen who is entrusted with the function of extending the bee genus, providing the family with strong and viable offspring, as well as uniting and coordinating all working individuals in the hive.

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