Unit 5: Colony Reproduction and Sex Dertermination Flashcards
What is Swarming
Swarming is the natural division of 1 colony into 2 or more colonies; it is the natural way of reproduction and dispersal of honey bee colonies. This reproductive process is essential for the continued existence of honey bee societies.
When is swarming season in temperate climates?
Mid to late spring
When is swarming season in tropical climates?
the dry season
What are some factors that favor swarming?
- Larger bee colonies
- brood nest becomes congested
- distribution of queen substance is reduced
- workers receiving insufficient amounts of queen substance will rear queen cells and may swarm
- increase in hive temperature alo contributes.
What are signs of swarming?
1) Workers reduce their foraging activity
2) Bees accumulate at the hive entrance - form a “beard”
3) Presence of queen cells in the brood nest
What is absconding?
Abandonment of the hive, including leaving brood and honey, due to unfavorable conditions such as ants or starvation. Resembles swarming but lacking provision of new queens and the total population leaves
Adenine matches with?
Thymine
Cytosine matches with?
Guanine
What happens to homozygous diploid eggs once they hatch?
They are eaten by the colony.
Up to how many mates will a queen bee mate with?
Up to 40 drones in 1 - 5 mating flights
If worker bees are part of the same sub family (fathered by the same drone), what percent of genes do they have in common?
75%
- 25% from the mother
- 50% from the father
What are “super sisters”?
Worker bees fathered by the same drone. In the same subfamily and therefore “extra” related
What are “half-sisters”?
Worker bees from different subfamilies. They only share a mother. They only have a relationship of 25%.
True or False: drones can sting
False
Why is a male bee a haploid individual?
Because it carries a single set of chromosomes
