蜂(feng)為蜂(feng)群中最主要的(de)種類(lei),個體較蜂(feng)王(wang)和雄(xiong)蜂(feng)小。
1、體灰褐色,頭、胸、背面密生灰黃(huang)色的(de)細毛(mao);
2、頭略(lve)呈三(san)角形,有復眼1對,單(dan)眼3個(ge),觸角1對,膝(xi)狀彎(wan)曲;El器發達,適(shi)于咀嚼及吮吸(xi);
3、足(zu)3對,股節(jie)、脛節(jie)及跗(fu)節(jie)等處均有(you)采(cai)集花粉的構(gou)造(zao);
3、腹(fu)部(bu)圓錐形,背面黃褐色,1~4節(jie)有黑(hei)色環節(jie),末端(duan)尖銳,有毒腺、螯針;
4、腹上有蠟板4對,內有蠟腺(xian),分泌蠟質。成(cheng)年蜂重80mg,體長10~13ram。
有(you)(you)研(yan)究(jiu)人員發現,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)權(quan)力也(ye)可能會(hui)失控,一些(xie)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)通(tong)過繁殖(zhi)來(lai)延長自己(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)生命欺騙蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)。一項對巴西(xi)蜜蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)顯示(shi),有(you)(you)些(xie)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)并不是(shi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兒(er)子,而是(shi)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兒(er)子。蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群通(tong)常有(you)(you)約1500只(zhi)(zhi)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),由一只(zhi)(zhi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)統治(zhi)(zhi)。該研(yan)究(jiu)發表在《分子生態學(xue)》雜志上,研(yan)究(jiu)探究(jiu)了45個蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群的(de)(de)(de)(de)近(jin)600只(zhi)(zhi)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),研(yan)究(jiu)它們的(de)(de)(de)(de)基(ji)因以(yi)查明它們的(de)(de)(de)(de)身(shen)世(shi)。結(jie)果顯示(shi),23%的(de)(de)(de)(de)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)不是(shi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)代(dai),而是(shi)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)代(dai)。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)通(tong)常不能交配,但能產下非受精卵,這些(xie)卵子可以(yi)發育成雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)。為了確保自己(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)統治(zhi)(zhi)地(di)位,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)經(jing)常會(hui)吃掉工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產下的(de)(de)(de)(de)卵子。
工蜂(feng)繁殖唯一的(de)(de)好(hao)處是(shi)這樣做(zuo)它(ta)們的(de)(de)壽(shou)命可以(yi)延長(chang)3倍,和蜂(feng)后的(de)(de)壽(shou)命差不多一樣長(chang)。這是(shi)因為繁殖的(de)(de)工蜂(feng)勞作(zuo)少,不再執行(xing)危險的(de)(de)任務,如覓食(shi)、采蜜。
蜂(feng)(feng)群失(shi)王以后,很容易出現工蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)卵。一(yi)般失(shi)王3-5天就可以發現工蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)卵。工蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)卵是(shi)分散(san)的,在一(yi)個巢房產(chan)數粒卵,而(er)且東歪西(xi)斜,十分混亂。這些卵都是(shi)未受精卵,即使卵孵化也只能產(chan)體格小的雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)。
發現工蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵以(yi)后,及早誘(you)入一(yi)個(ge)成(cheng)(cheng)熟的王臺或(huo)新(xin)產(chan)(chan)卵王,比較容易(yi)被接受。若誘(you)人蜂(feng)王發生(sheng)困難時,可在(zai)(zai)上(shang)(shang)午把(ba)原箱(xiang)移開0.5m左右,在(zai)(zai)原來的位置上(shang)(shang)放一(yi)個(ge)空箱(xiang),讓工蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵群(qun)(qun)(qun)的工蜂(feng)飛(fei)回(hui)原址。晚上(shang)(shang),再把(ba)工蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵群(qun)(qun)(qun)的所(suo)有巢脾(pi)(pi)提出(chu),把(ba)蜂(feng)抖在(zai)(zai)原箱(xiang)內餓一(yi)夜,第(di)二天(tian)讓其(qi)飛(fei)回(hui)原址。然后加脾(pi)(pi)進行調整,同時誘(you)人蜂(feng)王或(huo)成(cheng)(cheng)熟王臺。當(dang)新(xin)蜂(feng)王產(chan)(chan)卵或(huo)產(chan)(chan)卵王誘(you)入成(cheng)(cheng)功之后,產(chan)(chan)卵工蜂(feng)會自(zi)然消失(shi)。但是還須處理不正常的子(zi)脾(pi)(pi),突(tu)出(chu)的雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)房封(feng)蓋用刀切除,幼蟲用搖蜜(mi)機搖出(chu);工蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)的卵用酒精噴殺,或(huo)用糖漿泡后交還蜂(feng)群(qun)(qun)(qun)清理,或(huo)用3%碳酸鈉溶液(ye)灌脾(pi)(pi),再用搖蜜(mi)機分(fen)離出(chu)卵,以(yi)清水洗凈脾(pi)(pi)并陰干(gan)后使用。如果工蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵超過20天(tian)以(yi)上(shang)(shang),群(qun)(qun)(qun)內已(yi)有大量的雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)及雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)脾(pi)(pi),對(dui)這種蜂(feng)群(qun)(qun)(qun),只能分(fen)散(san)地合并到其(qi)他蜂(feng)群(qun)(qun)(qun)。
工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)由工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)房(fang)里的受精卵發(fa)育而成的雌性個(ge)(ge)體(ti),但(dan)生(sheng)殖器官(guan)發(fa)育不完(wan)全。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的身體(ti)比(bi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)和雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)小(xiao),但(dan)在蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群中數量極為(wei)龐大,它們(men)多達(da)幾萬只(zhi),有(you)時可達(da)10萬只(zhi)或(huo)者更多。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的壽命雖然比(bi)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)長,但(dan)是一般也(ye)僅為(wei)幾個(ge)(ge)月(yue),很(hen)(hen)少能(neng)夠熬過一個(ge)(ge)年頭(tou),夏季4~6周,冬(dong)季3~6月(yue),其壽命的長短(duan)與工(gong)(gong)作強度、蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群群勢(shi)有(you)很(hen)(hen)大的關系。
工(gong)蜂無(wu)愧于"勤勞"這一(yi)稱號,因為(wei)歷(li)經短促的一(yi)生(sheng),它們似(si)乎沒有(you)從工(gong)作中停歇下來過。可以說,它們每天除了吃飯睡(shui)覺就是干(gan)活,不辭辛苦,任勞任怨。
蜂(feng)(feng)群中工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)占了大多(duo)數,蜂(feng)(feng)群中的(de)大部分(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)也由工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)承擔。工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)按其(qi)生長發育可以分(fen)為幼(you)年蜂(feng)(feng)、青(qing)(qing)年蜂(feng)(feng)、壯(zhuang)年蜂(feng)(feng)和老年蜂(feng)(feng),而且隨日(ri)齡(ling)不同(tong)有一(yi)定分(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)。其(qi)中幼(you)年蜂(feng)(feng)主(zhu)要(yao)是指羽化后(hou)1~8日(ri)齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要(yao)進(jin)行巢(chao)(chao)內(nei)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo),包括保(bao)溫、煽(shan)風(feng)、清理巢(chao)(chao)房、調制蜜(mi)粉(fen)(fen)、飼(si)喂幼(you)蟲(chong)并進(jin)行認巢(chao)(chao)飛翔;青(qing)(qing)年蜂(feng)(feng)是指8~20日(ri)齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要(yao)擔任飼(si)喂小幼(you)蟲(chong)和蜂(feng)(feng)王、清理蜂(feng)(feng)巢(chao)(chao)、拖棄(qi)死蜂(feng)(feng)或殘屑、夯實花(hua)粉(fen)(fen)、釀蜜(mi)、筑造巢(chao)(chao)脾、用(yong)蜂(feng)(feng)膠填補孔隙、守衛蜂(feng)(feng)巢(chao)(chao)等(deng)(deng)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo);壯(zhuang)年蜂(feng)(feng)指從(cong)事(shi)采(cai)(cai)集的(de)主(zhu)力工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要(yao)采(cai)(cai)集花(hua)蜜(mi)、花(hua)粉(fen)(fen)、樹膠、水(shui)等(deng)(deng);而越(yue)冬后(hou)的(de)老年蜂(feng)(feng)多(duo)從(cong)事(shi)搜尋蜜(mi)源、采(cai)(cai)水(shui)等(deng)(deng)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)。