Latin: Apis Mellifica
The bee – or honeybee – is probably one of the most well-known insects in Denmark. It also goes by its Latin name Apis Mellifica and is both loved for its ability to pollinate flowers and produce honey, but also feared for its hurtful sting.
The bee belongs to a very small group of insects, which man has managed to turn into a kind of domestic animal. And more than 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians were some of the first to have hives.
Appearance
The honeybee is one of the insects that are winged, with almost glassy wings. The honeybee is brown and yellow and is almost furred on the front of the body. The workers will be between 12-13 mm long and the queen approx. 20 mm long.
On the underside of the hind body, the bee has a series of glands from which it produces wax. It is this wax that is used to build new cells in the bees’ nest.
Biology and behavior
The bees are part of a highly developed organization that together form a unique colony with a queen at the center. In addition to the queen, the colony itself consists of a large number of males and a large number of workers and can count between 10,000 – 20,000 bees. The colony can live on year after year.
As described, the queen is the central figure. And she enjoys great support and care from her males and staff who make sure to keep her well-fed and comfortable. The bees’ efforts for the queen ensure that she only must concentrate on one thing: namely, to produce her eggs, which she produces in large numbers. A queen can produce up to 2,000 eggs a day.
A queen is not always firmly planted on her throne in her nest. A community of bees can form so-called “offshoots”, where the worker bees build some extra-large cells, in which new queens are raised. But the bees are only interested in having one queen. This means that the old queen is deposed from her throne and must find new pastures. Often, however, part of the colony’s bees will accompany her, and together they form a new nest and a new community elsewhere.
The queen can survive for many years and overwinter with the worker bees that are born in late summer.
It is not without reason that the concept of “diligent as a bee” exists. Because the bees are incredibly hardworking. But the extent of the work that a bee does depends on the age of the bee. And the bee will go through several phases of the work in the colony, as it gets older.
In its first days of life, a newly hatched worker bee will spend its time cleaning the nest. The bee then goes through a period in which its work tasks consist of tending and feeding the larvae. Then a new phase begins where the bee begins to build. For this purpose, it uses wax from its glands.
In addition to these construction tasks, the worker bee is responsible for collecting pollen and nectar. And when the bee reaches the end of its life, it will spend time as a “gatherer bee” and gather supplies to the colony. In order to fill the bee’s stomach – also called the inn – with nectar, it must visit up to 1,000 flowers. And on sunny days, the bee can take up to 10 collection trips.
Damage
Honeybees are often confused with Mason bees. But there is a difference between the two types of bees. And honeybees do no harm the house, even if they are building their nest under the roof or in the cavity wall.
In fact, honeybees are a valued source in our gardens. It is as described those who help to pollinate the garden’s fruit trees, berry bushes and flowers. Therefore, one can advantageously attract the bees to the garden by planting various fragrant flowers.
Prevention and pest control
Although the bees are usually quite peaceful, they can place their nest in some rather inconvenient places where it bothers everyday life. But since bees are a treasured resource in our gardens and nature in general, there is no reason to try to fight them. If you want to have a hive removed, you should instead contact the Danish Beekeepers’ Association, which can arrange the contact to local beekeepers who may be interested in picking up the bees. You will find all information at www.biavl.dk.
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"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
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