Managing The Colony Labor Pool Archives - Scientific Beekeeping https://scientificbeekeeping.com/bee-behavior-biology/managing-colony-labor-pool/ Beekeeping Through the Eyes of a Biologist Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:38:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Primer Pheromones, Part 4 – Reproduction and Survival https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-primer-pheromones-part-4-reproduction-and-survival/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:00:32 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=449 The Primer Pheromones, Part 4—Reproduction and Survival Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal July 2010 Queen Pheromone(s) We humans hear the term “queen” and immediately project all the royal attributes of leadership and omnipotence upon the mother of the colony. But is this really the case? Does the queen bee really “rule” […]

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]]> The Primer Pheromones and Managing the Labor Pool – Part 3 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-primer-pheromones-and-managing-the-labor-pool-part-3/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:00:44 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=441 The Primer Pheromones and Managing the Labor Pool Part 3 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal June 2010 I left you last month in the middle of explaining the current model for colony workforce allocation, and the influence of various primer pheromones. Please allow me to pick up where I left off. […]

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]]> The Primer Pheromones and Managing the Labor Pool – Part 2 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-primer-pheromones-and-managing-the-labor-pool-part-2/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:08 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=436 The Primer Pheromones and Managing the Labor Pool Part 2 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal May 2010 In the first part of this article, I explained how the allotment of the hive labor pool was largely controlled through communication via the process of sharing protein-rich jelly via trophallaxis, plus non-feeding interchange […]

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]]> The Primer Pheromones and Managing the Labor Pool – Part 1 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-primer-pheromones-and-managing-the-labor-pool-part-1/ Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:00:54 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=425 We humans tend to anthropomorphize animal behavior, which is often just plain silly. The most caring, gentle, nurturing beekeeper can pamper a hive to no end, yet will still have her friendship rewarded with a volley of stings to the face should she move a bit too quickly.

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]]> An Adaptable Workforce https://scientificbeekeeping.com/an-adaptable-workforce/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:15:05 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=289 An Adaptable Workforce Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal March 2010 I’d like to return to the analogy of the honey bee colony as being similar to a medium-sized mammal.  The combs are analogous to the skeleton, the queen to the ovary, drones to sperms, honey to body fat, and the workers […]

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]]> The Economy of the Hive – Part 2 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-economy-of-the-hive-part-2/ Sat, 19 Mar 2011 23:00:16 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=417 The Economy of the Hive—Part 2 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal February 2010 Last month I described the functions of the main players in the hive economy—the queen, the nurse bees, the foragers, and the “resting” bees. Now let’s look at the main driver for the bee economy—the supply of food. […]

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]]> The Economy of the Hive – Part 1 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-economy-of-the-hive-part-1/ Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:00:02 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=412 The Economy of the Hive, Part 1 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in American Bee Journal January 2010 Inside the hive there functions a vibrant community, with an economy similar to that of any other society. The bee economy is based upon the harvesting and processing of resources, the trade of products, doting care for […]

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