Bees (Test Two)

Question 1

What is all contained in the Phylum Arthropoda? (6 noted)

Answer 1

1. Insects - Insecta
2. Spiders - Arachnida
3. Scorpions - Arachnida
4. Centipedes - Chilopoda
5. Millipedes - Diplopoda
6. Crustaceans - Malacostraca

Question 2

Explain the six important characteristics of Arthropods.

Answer 2

1. Bilaterally symmetrical
2. Protostomes (blastopore becomes mouth)
3. Eucoelomates (has coelom)
4. Chitinous exoskeleton
5. Jointed legs

Question 3

Describe the Family Stenotritidae

Answer 3

1. They are Australian bees
2. Twenty-one different species
3. Large, dense hair, fast flying
4. Solitary and burrows in the ground

Question 4

Describe the Family Colletidae

Answer 4

1. Known as plasterer bees
2. Over 2000 species
3. Either Solitary or Communal
4. They smooth the walls of their nests with secretions (hence the name plasterer)

Question 5

Describe the Family Halictidae.

Answer 5

1. Known as sweat bees
2. 2000 species known
3. Dark or metallic color, some striped
4. Attracted to perspiration
5. Solitary, communal, quasisocial or eusocial

Question 6

Describe the Family Andrenidae.

Answer 6

1. Known as mining bees
2. 2000 species known
3. Solitary and ground nesting

Question 7

Describe the Family Megachilidae.

Answer 7

1. Known as leaf-cutting or Mason bees
2. 4000 species known
3. Solitary, build above ground nests of leaves or soil

Question 8

Describe the Family Apidae

Answer 8

1. Known as bumble bees, honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees
2. 5,700 species known
3. Solitary to eusocial

Question 9

Describe the species “Apis Mellifera”.

Answer 9

1. This is the western or European honey bee
2. They are eusocial
3. Colonies can reach 60,000 individuals
4. Most important crop pollinator worldwide
5. Produce honey and beeswax
6. Important for studying social evolution, learning and memory

Question 10

How do “Apis Mellifera” communicate?

Answer 10

Through pheromones and dance language

Question 11

What causes the differences in behavior and physiology between castes in “Apis Mellifera”?

Answer 11

Differences in gene expression

Question 12

Describe the caste of Drones in “Apis Mellifera”.

Answer 12

1. They are male honey bees, without stinger
2. They don’t gather nectar or pollen
3. They are products of unfertilized eggs
4. Sole purpose is to mate with queen
5. Mating lasts five seconds then die
6. Life expectancy is 90 days

Question 13

Describe the caste of Workers in “Apis Mellifera”.

Answer 13

1. Produced from fertilized diploid eggs
2. Essential for social structure and colony function
3. They raise sisters and future queens (sterile)
4. They forage for nectar/pollen to bring back
5. Larvae workers are fed “bee bread”
6. Life span is 5-6 weeks

Question 14

Describe the caste of Queens in “Apis Mellifera”.

Answer 14

1. Larger with developed reproductive system
2. Queens are chosen at larvae stage and fed royal jelly throughout development
3. They develop in compartments called “queen cups
4. Virgin queens fly out when the weather is good and mate with 12-15 drones
5. Stores the six million sperm for her five years of life
6. Sole function is a reproducer

Question 15

What happens during the spring in the annual cycle of a honey bee colony?

Answer 15

The queen lays fertilized eggs to grow the workforce.

Question 16

What happens during the early summer in the annual cycle of a honey bee colony?

Answer 16

Bee numbers and activity are high, and the workers are foraging on plentiful resources.

Since there is an increased food supply, and population swarming begins

Question 17

What happens during the late summer in the annual cycle of a honey bee colony?

Answer 17

The workers construct specialized cells where the new queens will emerge

Before the new queens emerge, the old queen, some workers, and some drones leave the hive

Scout workers search for a new place to live and dance to communicate where the new place is

Once the new hive is established, the old queen begins to restore the population

Question 18

What happens during the late fall in the annual cycle of a honey bee colony?

Answer 18

Reproduction halts as resources become limited and drones are expelled

The remaining colony clusters together on honey filled combs during winter, and their bussing keeps them warm

Question 19

Describe the life cycle of a queen in more detail.

Answer 19

1. After the specialized cells have been made and the larvae fed royal jelly, the new queens emerge and fight for dominance
2. The remaining pupal queens are destroyed by workers
3. A surviving queen takes flights for several days to mate with drones from other hives
4. Returns to the hive and reproduces the rest of her life

Question 20

Describe dance language.

Answer 20

1. The direction the bee moves in relation to the hive communicates the direction on flowers in relation to the sun
2. The duration of the waggle tells how far the flowers are (1sec = 1km)

Question 21

How much of the food we eat depends directly on insect pollination?

Answer 21

1/3

Question 22

Why can transporting bees be an issue?

Answer 22

Makes bees more susceptible to

1. Mites
2. Viruses
3. Non-diverse foraging
4. Extreme temps
5. Pesticides

Question 23

How many species are living in NA other than “Apis Mellifera”

Answer 23

4000 species

Question 24

How many bees have disappeared from the midwest in the last 100 years?

Answer 24

50 % of bees

Question 25

Why have bees been disappearing?

Answer 25

1. Changes in land use
2. Pesticides and herbicides
3. Climate change

Question 26

How many species are believed to be extinct and how many are endangered?

Answer 26

Three are believed to be extinct

Eight are endangered