UNIT 3 STRUCTURE OF HONEY BEE

Structure
3.0 Aims and Objectives

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Morphological Features of Honey Bee

3.2.1 Head
3.2.2 Thorax
3.2.3 Abdomen

3.3 Anatomy of Honey Bee

3.3.1 Digestive System
3.3.2 ,Excretory System
3.3.3 Circulatory System
3.3.4 Respiratory System
3.3.5 Nervous System
3.3.6 Reproductive System

3.4 Let Us Sum Up

3.5 ~ey VVords

3.6 Further References

3.7 Model Answers

3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This unit aims at familiarizing you' about the morphology and anatomy of
honey bee. After going through this unit, you will be able to know about the:

• external body parts, appendages, sensory, locomotion, vision organs, to

and various glands, and

• internal body parts, their structure and 'functions.

3.1 INTRODUCTION
The body of the honey bee is divided into three distinct regions - head (H),
thorax (Th) and abdomen (Ab) as depicted in the Fig.3.l. Head" bears
the sensory (Ant-antennae), and vision (E, compound eyes and O,oee'llil
simple eyes), feeding organs (mouth parts), and inside encloses a brain.
Thorax bears three pairs of legs (LI L2 L3) and two pairs of wings (VV2'VV3)·
The thorax, is a locomotory centre. Abdomen is mainly concerned with
metabolic activities and is the seat of the reproduction as well. Various
morphological features of the honey bee have been briefly discussed in-the
next section ..

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 Structure of Honey Bee

Fig. 3.1: Morphological features of honey bee

3.2 MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HONEY

BEE
3.2.1 Head
The head of the honey bee is flattened from the front. The rounded lateral
sides of the head bear compound eyes. The head of worker bee is triangular
and slightly longer than broad. The queen's head is little rounded. The head
of the drone is much large, round and greatly occupied by the large black
kidney shaped compound eyes which meet at the top (vertex) of the head.
The three simple eyes/ ocelli (0) arranged in a triangle shape, located on
the upper side of the head. Posteriorily, the head is perforated by a pentagonal
hole. The antenna is a sensory organ. It is a segmented appendage of the
head. It is located in between the compound eyes. The antenna of bee is
geniculate (elbowed) type. It bear numerous sense organs like sense of touch
(tactile) and smell (olfactory).

The mouth parts of

honey bee (Fig. 3.2) are
located at the
downward side of the
head. Generally, bees
have chewing and
lapping type month
part. Such month parts
are comprised of a
narrow, quadrangular
and hairy plate above
the mouth parts, the
labrum (Lb) as an
upper lip. On the sides
of the labrum (upper
lip), a pair of dumble-
shaped or spatula-like
. teeth or mandibles
(Md) are placed. The Fig. 3.2: Mouth Parts of honey bee
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Introduction to Bees mandibles are used for grasping and molding wax into comb cells, ingestion
and Beekeeping
of pollen grains as food, and as support for the proboscis (tongue) during
feeding. In the queen bee, the inandibular glands produce a pheromone
which inhibits the workers to build emergency queen cells. It also acts as a
sex attractant to attract the drones. Mandibles of drone are the smallest,
whereas those of queen bee are strongest, sharp and bilobed to cut open the
anterior end of the sealed queen-cell for its emergence as adult queen. Each
maxilla and labium (lower lip) is a complex structure. These are closely
united to form lapping tongue. By its active retraction and protrusion, the
liquid food (nectar) is sucked in just like a straw in one's mouth while
sipping cold drink.

3.2.2 Thorax
This is the second region of the honey bee body. It comprises of three
segments (Th -1, 2, 3,) the frontal (prothorax), middle (mesothorax) and
posterior (metathorax) thoracic segments (Fig. 3.1) . Every segment bears a
pair of leg (L, L 2' L3). Mesothorax and metathorax also have a pair of wings
(W2' W3) each. The first abdominal segment (I) is fused with the metathorax
and is termed as propodeum. Wings are transparent, simple in shape and
venation. The fore wing is much larger than the hind wing. During flight,
two wings on each side are coupled together by a row of many hooks called
hamuli arising from the anterior margin of the hind wing and the thickened
fold on the posterior margin of the fore wing. The three pairs of legs are
structurally and functionally modified to perform various functions, especially
in worker bees for example, the fore legs are modified for antenna cleaning,
the middle legs for pollen brushing and the hind legs for pollen collection.

3.2.3 Abdomen
The first abdominal segment (I) is fused with the metathorax, called the
propodeum. The second abdominal segment (11) is greatly constricted
anteriorly at its union with the propodeum. This constricted segment is called
petiole. The petiole gives freedom to the abdomen movement. The remaining
abdominal segments (Ill-VII) are collectively called as gaster. The gaster
consists of six exposed segments in the females and seven in the drones and
the remaining are concealed and/or considerably modified into external
reproductive organsl genitalia. The abdomen also houses different types of
glands and spiracles (sp). Four pairs of wax glands are present in the anterior
part of the ventral (lower) side of 4th to T" abdominal segments (sterna). The
glands secrete wax on to the wax mirrors/ plates and later on it hardens as
wax scales on the outer surface of the wax mirrors/plates. From there, the
wax scales are removed by the bee with the help of a spine on the middle
leg, grasped by the mandibles and masticate (chewed) for the comb
construction.

There is one gland known as Nassanoff's gland or scent gland present in

workers only. This gland lies concealed between the upper side of 6th and
T" abdominal segments (terga). Its scent helps the workers in communicating
the availability of food sources.

The bee sting (Stn) is a modified ovipositor and serves as an instrument of

defense. The stinging apparatus consists of piercing sting shaft and a closely

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associated poison gland. The sting is housed in the tip of abdomen. During Structure of Honey Bee

stinging, the bee arches its body and thrusts the sting shaft perpendicularly
into the victim's body. The sting being barbed, when stung, cannot be
withdrawn from the tight human skin, hence the bee has to tear it away. The
queen bee also has a sting which is used only against rival queens. The sting
of the queen is not-barbed; hence, after stinging the rival queen, it is retracted
without tearing it off the queen's body. The drone bees are sting less.
,
Check Your Progress Exercise 1
Note: i) Answer the following questions in the given blank space.
ii) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the
unit.
1) Name the important body regions of honey bee.

2) Which type of mouth parts the honey bees have? Explain the
specifications of this types of mouth parts.

3) What is the role of mandibles in honey bees?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• '0 ~

4) Why does the thorax in honey bees is known as site of locomotary

organs?

5) Where are the scent glands and poison glands situated in honey bee?

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Introduction to Bees
rnd Beekeeping 3.3 ANATOMY OF HONEY BEE
Under this section, there will be a description about the internal organs of
the honey bee. Though honey bees have all the systems and characteristics
of a typical insect but there are some modifications or say specializations in
the body parts for their specific requirements. Let us explain the features of
different internal organs of a bee.

3.3.1 Digestive System

We all know that alimentary canal is the main digestive system of any live organism.
It is concerned with food intake (ingestion), its digestion, absorption of nutrients
and egesting of waste products (excretion). In case of honey bee, it also serves
as a carrier of nectar and honey. It is divided into three parts. Let us explain the
features of each section separately.

1) Stomodaeum (Fore Gut) : It is an anterior part of the alimentary canal.

The mouth leads into a suctorial pharynx, and then it continues as a
narrow tube through the thorax into the abdomen. This is called
oesophagus.

dorsal aorta esophagus heart

salivary gland
brain

intestine
rectum
antenna sting

nail
pharynx

ventral crop venom sac

nervous system
Fig. 3.3: Internal Anatomy of a Bee
Source: www.infovisual.info

The next dilated portion of the oesophagus is called crop or honey

stomach in which the surplus nectar is collected, stored and transported
to the hive for conversion into the honey. The crop is followed by a
neck like long and broad proventriculus. At its anterior end, it has four
mobile lips, each armed with a number of spines. The four lips form an
X shape aperture. The function of proventriculus in the worker honey
bee is to regulate the entrance of food from the crop to the ventriculus
(mid-gut or real stomach). The nectar to be taken to the hive is retained
in the crop. The opening of the proventriculus is the functional mouth
of the stomach.

ii) Ventriculus (Mid gut): It is the functional stomach. In honey bees, it is a

thick cylindrical tube bent upon itself in a U-shaped loop. It is concerned
with the secretion of the enzymes, digestion and absorption of the food
constituents.

iii) Proctodaeum. (Hind gut) : It is divided into an anterior and posterior

intestine commonly called the rectum. At its anterior margin, it has
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 numerous long thread like structures called Malpighian Tubules. Rectum Structure of Honey Bee
has six rectal papillae which help in salt and water regulation. The bees never
eject waste materials in the hive. During prolonged cold winter, the waste
material is retained in the expanded rectum.

iv) Associated Glands

a) Hypopharyngeal Glands: These are paired glands present in the head.

Their secretion makes up the royal jelly used for feeding the young
worker, drone larvae, queen larvae and adult queen bee

b) Head and Thoracic Salivary Glands: These glands produce the

enzyme invertase which breaks down the sucrose of the nectar into
honey sugars - glucose and fructose.

3.3.2 Excretory System

In bees, Malpighian Tubules are the main excretory system. The Malpighian
Tubules consists of hundred long, whitish and convoluted thread like
structures. They are wrapped and coiled with each other. They open into the
pylorus. They excrete urates, leucin, phosphates, calcium oxalate and calcium
carbonate.

3.3.3 Circulatory System

The circulatory system in honey bees comprises of dorsal blood vessel. This
is the main organ of the system. It extends from the posterior half of the 6th
abdominal segment into the head and lies in the dorsal cavity (pericardial)
of the body. It is divided into heart and aorta. The heart is the posterior part
of dorsal blood vessel and aorta lies in the anterior of the blood vessel. The
heart lies up to the second abdominal segment and contains five pairs of
lateral ostia or holes, one pair each in second to sixth abdominal segment.
The aorta enters into the thorax through the petiole and goes into the head
where it opens beneath the brain. The blood of honey bee is called
haemolymph. This is devoid of hemoglobin. It is not red in colour.

3.3.4 Respiratory System

The honey bee's respiratory system has several trachea which open at the
body surface for the exchange of gases. These openings are called spiracles.
The tracheal system in honey bees has 10 pairs of spiracles which open, one
each, into mesothorax, metathorax, propodeum and the next 7 in the
abdominal segments. Interiorly, the tracheae are expanded like air sacs. They
also lack taenidia. Tracheae are dispersed in the whole of the body.

3.3.5 Nervous System

The nervous system of honey bee comprises of Central Nerve Chord. It lies on
the inner side of lower integument (skin) and has several nerve centers called
ganglia (singular is ganglion). From a ganglion, several nerves arise and innervate
(open) into nearer organs. The front most ganglion is known as supra-oesophageal
ganglion (brain) which has a well developed protocerebrum, a deutocerebrum
and a tritocerebrum which can be recognized by the frontal connectives. The
supraoesophageal ganglion innervates the mouthparts. The ventral nerve cord
consists of seven ganglia, the first of which lies in the prothorax, very large second
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Introduction to Bees ganglion in the meso- and meta- thorax (common to the two thorax segments)
and Beekeeping
and the subsequent five, one each, in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th abdominal
segments.

3.3.6 Reproductive System

In the drone (male), the reproductive organs are a pair of yellowish, small, triangular
testes, coiled vasa differentia having enlarged seminal vesicles and a pair of huge
mucus glands opening into the ejaculatory duct. This duct opens into penis.

The reproductive system of the female includes a pair of ovaries, paired lateral
oviducts and a median common oviduct. There are more than hundreds ovarioles
per ovary are in case of queen bee whereas this is seldom more than five in the
case of worker bee. The common oviduct opens into the vagina which opens at
the base of the sting. A sperm receptacle called the spermatheca (sperms'
storage sac) opens by a short duct into the vagina in the case of queen bee. When
a queen bee mates with several drones, the sperms of all the drones are stored
in spermatheca. Later on it is used for fertilizing the ova as and when required.

Check Your Progress Exercise 2

Note: i) Answer the following questions in the given blank space.
ii) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the
unit.
1) What is the function of crop (honey stomach) in honey bee's
digestive system?

2) What is the function of ventriculus in honey bee's digestive system?

3) What is the importance of rectum in honey bee's digestive system?

4) What for the secretion of hypopharengeal glands are used by the

worker bees?

.... ~ " , .

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5) What is the role of mal pig hian tubules in the honey bee's system? Structure of Honey Bee

6) Describe the function of the spermatheca in honey bee queens.

3.4 LET US SUM UP

Like any typical insect, the honey bee has all the organs. The body system
of honey bee is well developed with some modified organs as compared to
the other insects. The body of the honey bee is divided into three distinct
regions - head, thorax and abdomen. Head bears the sensory vision and
feeding organs. Thorax is the main locomotory centre. It is comprised of
three segments-the prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. Each part bears
a pair of leg. In the case of worker bee, the fore legs are modified for
antenna cleaning, the middle legs for pollen brushing and the hind legs of
for pollen collection. Mesothorax and metathorax also have a pair of wings
each. Abdomen is mainly concerned with metabolic activities and is theseat
of reproduction. Abdomen in bees is petiolated and houses scent glands, wax
glands and sting and poison glands. The sting in worker bee is barbed. After
stinging, it cannot be withdrawn from the tight human skin; hence, the bee
has to tear it away. Queen bee's sting is not barbed, thus, after stinging to
the rival queen; it can be retracted without tearing it off the queen's body.
The drone bees are sting-less.

The internal body parts consist of digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous

and reproductive systems. It is numerous glands for different functions.

3.5, KEY WORDS

Anatomy It denotes the internal body features.

Appendages All the attachments to the body of the honey bee are
called appendages. It is comprised of legs, antenna,
hairs and other such parts which are on the body
surface.

Locomotor Organs The organs concerned with the movement are called
locomotor organs such as legs.

Morphology It denotes the external body features.

Sensory Organs The organs concerned with the sensing are called
sensory organs. These are attached to the antenna of
the honey bee.

37
Introduction to Bees
and Beekeeping 3.6 FURTHER REFERENCES
The following books or journals may be used for further reading.
Dade, H.A.1962. Anatomy and Dissection of the Honey Bee, IBRA, UK, 178
pp.
Grahm, Joe M. 1992. Hive and the Honey Bee, pp. 103-169. Dadant & Sons,
Hamilton, Illinois, USA, 1324 pp.
Mishra, R.e. 1995. Honey Bees and Their Management, ICAR, New Delhi,
India, 168 pp.
Root, A.I.; Root, E.H. and Root, H.H. 1975. The ABC and XYZ of Bee
Culture. A. I. Root Co. Medina, Ohio, USA.

Singh, S. 1962. Beekeeping in India, ICAR, New Delhi, India, 214 pp.
Snodgrass, R. E. 1925Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee. Me Graw
Hill Book Co., New York & London, 327 pp.
Snodgrass, R. E. 1956. Anatomy of the Honey Bee, Comstock Publishing
Associates, Ithaca, USA, 334 pp. '
Winston, M.L. 1991. The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University
Press, 281 pp.

3.7 MODEL ANSWERS

Check Your Progress Exercise 1
1) Important body regions of honey bee are: Head, thorax and abdomen.
2) Honey bee has chewing and lapping type of mouth parts.
3) The mandibles are used as grasping organs, moulding wax into cells,
ingestion of pollen grains for food, and as support for the proboscis
(tongue) during feeding.
4) It is so because it bears three pairs of legs and two pairs ofwings.
5) The scent glands are situated on the dorsal side in the inter-segmental
membrane between 6th and T" abdominal segment, whereas poison gland
is connected with sting apparatus in the tip of the abdomen.
Check Your Progress Exercise 2
1) Nectar is collected, stored and transported by the forager bee in the crop
or 'honey stomach' to the hive.
2) Ventriculus is the functional stomach. It is concerned with secretion of
the enzymes, digestion and absorption of the food material.
3) Rectum is the posterior part of hind gut and it contains six rectal papillae
which help in salt and water regulation. The bees never eject faeces in
the hive and during prolonged cold winter, the waste material is retained
in the expanded rectum.

38
4) Secretion of hypo pharyngeal glands is used by the worker (nurse) bee to Structure of Honey Bee
produce royal jelly.

5) Malpighian tubules are concerned with the excretion of urates, leucin,

phosphates, calcium oxalate and calcium carbonate.

6) When a queen bee mates with several drones, the sperms of all the
drones are stored in spermatheca and are used later on for fertilizing the
ova/eggs as and when required.

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