10 Be able to give an elementary description of the annual cycle of work in the apiary;

Bullet Points

  • Queen: Egg – laid in or moved by workers to queen cell (like monkey nut hanging down)
  • Queen: Lava – continuously fed on royal jelly
  • Queen: 1-5 days after emergence – groomed and fed by workers
  • Queen: About 3 days wings fully open and is capable of flight
  • Queen: 5-14 days series of mating flights
  • Queen: 5 days after final mating starts to lay eggs
  • Queen: Continues laying productively for 2-3 years
  • Worker: Eggs – laid in open cells, at first erect, gradually lying down
  • Worker: Larvae – cared for by adult workers, Continuously fed (first 2 days royal jelly, then brood food - a mixture royal jelly, honey and pollen)
  • Worker: Pupae – in sealed cells, no feeding, develops into adult and emerges on its own
  • Worker: 1-2 days after emergence – cleans cells and warm brood nest
  • Worker: 3-5 days – feed older lava with honey and pollen
  • Worker: 6-10 days – feed younger lavae with royal jelly
  • Worker: 11-18 days – ripen nectar, produce wax and construct comb
  • Worker: 19-21 days – guarding and ventilation, take exercise and orientation flights to learn to fly and locate the hive
  • Worker: 22+ days – forage for nectar, pollen, water or propolis
  • Drone: Same development as workers, until adult stage, when only role is to mate with the Queen

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