Aethinosis Definition: The small beetle coleopteran, Aethina tumida (Murray), is a size larger than the head of a bee (5 to 7mm in length and 3 to 4.5mm in width). So it is much smaller than any beetle. Aethina tumidae, also known as the “small beehive of the hive”, belongs to the Arthropoda phylum, the…
Acarapisose Definition It is a contagious endoparasitosis, which invades the respiratory tract of adult bees, located in the first pair of trachea, which can cause death of the infested colony. Geographic distribution Acarapisose, discovered in Britain, was mistaken for the disease on the Isle of Wight until 1921, the year Rennie needed its etiology. The…
Fossil of Bee To the left the oldest fossil of the bees ancestor, the “Electrapis” found in amber (resin). To the right a fossil of bees where the parts of the bee’s body are clearly visible and the corbícula (basket where the pollen is deposited) is highlighted in the paw (Photos published in Ruttner, 1992).…
Roman Fountain The source “Api del Bernini” or “Fontana delle Api”, in the city of Rome, is well known by tourists and the numerous photographs taken there. Today, despite being vandalized and damaged by people with few or no concerns with its historical heritage, it continues to show us the bee’s importance in the traditions…
How would your supermarket look if all the bees died? The bees, clearly in decline, pollinate a number of foods that we simply love. The problem may not merit the attention and concern of most consumers, far removed from the real meaning of bee extinction in the world. That’s why Whole Foods in Texas decided…
The Bees in antiquity Because of their importance in feeding, curing diseases and other uses, hives served as models for various temples of antiquity; the Egyptian temple of the goddess Neith was known as “the house of the bees,” the honey serving as a symbol of protection and used in the consecration of the foundations…
Honey Do you know that… … although the number of calories of honey is equal to that of sugar, its sweetening power is three times higher and therefore allows you to use a smaller amount making it advisable in the diets. Portuguese honey is considered one of the best in Europe. … the honey used…
A beehive usually has a family of bees, which is usually called a swarm. The swarm has an average of 60,000 to 80,000 bees, reaching up to 120,000 bees. Honey bee hives have several combs, which are used as a baby’s cradle and to store honey and pollen. The combs formed by several cells, also…
Pheromones Communication between bees is, in most cases, carried out by pheromones. The bees that guard the colony or that are near the entrance of the beehive feel the smell of those who want to enter, if this is not characteristic the guards expel the intruder. When a virgin queen leaves on her nuptial flight,…
