Bees are unique insects characterized by high organization. In any hive there is a queen, drones and the main force - worker bees. They are extremely functional and are responsible for many processes in the hive during the entire period of their life.
Characteristics of a working bee
The majority of any bee colony are worker bees. In winter, their number is an average of 35 thousand, and in summer it increases by 2-3 times or even more. A bee colony with less than 18-20 thousand workers is considered weak. There is a risk of her death during the winter. Therefore, the beekeeper must take care of wintering, and how to do it correctly - read here.
Any worker bee is a female, but characterized by underdevelopment of the genitals - this is its difference from the uterus. In fact, the working bees of one family are sisters, since the whole brood is made by one uterus.
A working bee can develop genitals if the uterus suddenly dies and there are no larvae in the nest. At the same time, mating with drones is impossible, so the eggs remain unfertilized - these are future drones. A bee with functioning ovaries is called a tinderpot.
In nature, there are sometimes hermaphrodite bees with male and female characteristics at the same time. Such a structure means that some kind of malfunction occurred in the development of the insect.
The dimensions of the working bee are associated with the underdevelopment of the genitals - in comparison with the uterus, it is smaller. The length reaches an average of 12-14 mm, the weight rarely exceeds 100 mg (without nectar).
The structure of the working bee is associated with the need to perform many functions. Internal organs are protected by a hard, but elastic cover - all its segments are articulated.
The body of the working bee is represented by three parts - the head, chest and abdomen. An insect has 5 eyes - two complex faceted and 3 simple ones. Smell and touch are provided by the antennae on the head. It also contains the pharyngeal gland - one of the most important organs. First, it secrete milk, which feeds the brood and uterus, when collecting nectar, the organ begins to produce the invertase enzyme.
6 legs and 4 wings depart from the insect's chest. The legs are involved in the collection of pollen, provide purification of the whole body. The chest with the abdomen on the sides has spiracles that provide the insect with the respiratory process. The air first enters the special bags, and from them enters the trachea.
In addition to the internal organs, the abdomen of a worker bee includes glands that secrete wax. The abdomen ends with a jagged sting. It is because of them that the bee dies after being bitten - its sting gets stuck in the victim's body, tearing off along with the abdomen and damaging the internal organs. The abdomen also contains honey goiter - a hollow organ for collecting nectar.
The proboscis of a working bee is usually 5.5-6.5 mm long, it can reach 7.2 mm - this is mainly due to the breed of the insect. For comparison, the uterus has a proboscis length of only 3.5 mm. For worker bees, this distinction is important for the extraction of nectar.
The activity of worker bees is related to the maintenance of the entire bee colony. Depending on the work performed, insects are:
- nurses - feeding the brood;
- stoves - heat production, can heat up to 44 degrees;
- scouts - morning flight, survey of the surroundings for the best source of nectar;
- Gatherers - collecting nectar by proboscis;
- receptionists - collecting nectar from collectors, processing it;
- security guards - protection of honey reserves; it is they who sting people more often;
- water carriers - are needed only when there is a lack of water;
- thieves - take stocks from other hives.
Working bees are strictly engaged in their duties, if there is no need for any reorganization. For example, gatherers in bad weather do not take on other functions, but sit back.
Flight and hive bees
Worker bees can be summer or hive bees. This division is observed in the spring-summer period. In autumn, the status of all insects is the same.
When the bees just leave the brood cells, they still have not enough strength, therefore they even move with difficulty. Their feeding is done by older adults.
Gradually, the bees begin to grow stronger, but they are not yet able to fly far, although they perform a cleansing flyby. During this period, they are engaged in feasible work in the hive:
- clarification of cells in cells;
- feeding the larvae - first with bee bread and honey, then with the milk produced;
- construction of honeycombs.
Bees usually stay hive up to 15-18 days of life. As they develop, their functionality expands, adding the following responsibilities:
- keep the nest clean;
- seal honeycombs filled with honey, brood cells;
- guard the nest;
- take nectar from gatherers;
- evaporate water from the resulting nectar, process it.
From the 15-18th day of life, the bee becomes flying. She collects nectar and pollen, brings water, sticky resinous substances to the hive.
Due to the structural features of the oral appendages and the proboscis, nectar is collected. Through the esophagus, it enters the honey goiter, which is a kind of storage of the product until it is delivered to the hive.
The body of the bee is densely covered with hairs. During the flight, static electricity accumulates on them, due to which pollen is attracted. Its maximum amount is recruited while on the flower. A bee rubs its paws on it - they have brushes that clean off pollen grains into special depressions on the hind legs. Special glands secrete a secret, which along with nectar moisturizes pollen - this ensures its reliable preservation until arrival in the hive.
Bees need water. They get it from nectar, and in the absence of a bribe, water carriers appear in nature - such flight bees collect water in the goiter. Sometimes mammalian urine is used instead of water. Liquid is needed to cool the nest and liquefy the honey.
The purpose of worker bees at different periods of life
Throughout its life, the worker bee performs some functions in the family. They depend on the age of the individual:
- the first days of life - brood heating;
- 3-5th day of life - cleaning flight around the hive, removal of debris, guarding the entrance (individual individuals);
- 4-10th day of life - production of royal jelly;
- 10-18th day - wax secretion (for this there are special glands that develop at this stage);
- from the 20th day of life - the beginning of the flying period, collecting nectar.
The functions of working bees are not clearly delineated by time frame. The development of different individuals of the same brood may differ.
Worker Bee Instincts
Any bee has certain instincts. They are congenital and simple and complex. The first option is characteristic of individual individuals or small groups of insects. Simple instincts include:
- remove the hive from dirt;
- provide ventilation of the hive;
- fly away from the smoke;
- sting an annoying or threatening object (protective instinct).
Worker bees have more complex instincts. It is they who determine the main activity of insects and the features of their organized life. Complex instincts include:
- build hexagonal honeycombs;
- fly and bring nectar, water;
- to accumulate honey;
- raise offspring;
- feed the larvae;
- to drive out drones;
- take care of the uterus.
Thanks to complex instincts, bees are able to find their hive and return to it after a flight, raise offspring, and make supplies of honey.
The bee does not remember the location of its hive, but is guided by various signs - other hives, vegetation around. Even a slight adjustment can disorient the insect.
In the process of vital activity, conditioned reflexes are also formed in worker bees. These include the ability to distinguish flowers from honey plants.
Development of worker bees, longevity
A bee begins to develop from the moment of fertilization of the egg. This happens when laying eggs.
The development of a bee takes 3 weeks. At first this is the stage of the egg, which takes 3 days. Then the larva hatches, which the nurse bees provide with royal milk. This food is provided only 3 days, after which it is replaced with beef and honey.
The larval stage takes 6 days. All this time brood is considered open. Then the cell with the larva is sealed, closing the brood. The pre-pupal stage begins, followed by the pupa. The process resembles pupation of butterflies - a larva spins a special cocoon. The pupa actively consumes the reserves accumulated at the larval stage.
On the 21st day, the insect is fully developed. It gnaws at the sealed cell lid and immediately starts work.
The lifespan of a worker bee is different and depends on many factors:
- spring-summer period - 35-45 days;
- autumn bees - up to 10 months, they usually survive the winter due to a well-developed fat body and internal glands;
- in strong bee colonies, the lifespan of a working bee is higher, since the young become flightable;
- in weak families, worker bees are overloaded with various duties, therefore they live less;
- the absence of comb culling leads to the degradation of bees, their weakening - as a result, the life expectancy is also reduced.
During the summer, most of the flight bees die outside the hive. The insect's body does not regenerate, and constant flights have a very bad effect on the condition of the wings. It often turns out that the bee simply could not once again fly back to the hive with its load.
Worker bees make up over 80% of the bees in the hive. They have all the responsibilities except reproduction. Worker bees do not live long - their life expectancy depends on the season and the strength of the family. There are several types of such insects, depending on their responsibilities in the bee colony and their performance in the hive or outside it.