Apis mellifera mellifera—Honey Bee
Apis mellifera, the name of the species of Apis well known to keepers of the bees! And yet, as is true of much about the honey bee, even the name can get complicated . . . Among the complications is … Continued
Making Sense of the Honey Bee Antenna
A Multi-Sensory Appendage The honey bee antenna, delicate as it is, provides a wealth of information essential for function and survival of both the bee and the colony. It comprises the scape, which attaches to the honey bee head, the … Continued
Finding a Flower in Bloom
A small, fuzzy honey bee makes her way to a clematis flower growing in a garden nearly two miles from her home. How did she find that flower? This common occurrence tends to go without much notice—other than by some who see … Continued
Microbiomes Matter!
So many things, we cannot see. Even so, some may make their presence felt. Take, for example, the classic “stomach bug” we cite to little ones with tummy troubles. This has long been the case. I still remember my own … Continued
So Many Things for a Mandible to Do!
Defining a Mandible If we think of a mandible in terms of ourselves, we find it defined as: the jaw or a jawbone, especially the lower jawbone in mammals and fishes. We are able to move our jaw up and … Continued
New review of Honey-Maker
Among many kind words about Honey-Maker: How the Honey Bee Worker Does What She Does, now in its second printing, are those just in from Fran Bach, who edits the Western Apicultural Society newsletter as well as that of the … Continued
Segments in the insect antenna—counting one, two, three!
In insects, the head of the adult typically has two attached antennae, each of which contains a total of three segments. For some, the idea that there are but three segments in the insect antenna raises questions. Even a glance … Continued