蜂為(wei)蜂群中最主要的種類(lei),個體較蜂王和雄蜂小。
1、體灰(hui)褐(he)色,頭、胸、背面密生灰(hui)黃色的細毛;
2、頭略呈三角(jiao)(jiao)形,有復眼(yan)1對(dui),單眼(yan)3個,觸角(jiao)(jiao)1對(dui),膝狀彎曲(qu);El器(qi)發達,適(shi)于咀(ju)嚼及吮吸;
3、足(zu)3對(dui),股節、脛節及(ji)跗節等處均有采集花(hua)粉的構造;
3、腹部(bu)圓錐形,背面黃褐(he)色(se),1~4節有黑色(se)環節,末端尖銳,有毒(du)腺、螯(ao)針;
4、腹上有蠟板4對,內有蠟腺,分(fen)泌蠟質(zhi)。成年蜂重80mg,體長(chang)10~13ram。
有(you)研究(jiu)人員(yuan)發現,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)權力也可(ke)(ke)能會(hui)失控,一些(xie)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)通過(guo)繁殖來延(yan)長自己的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)(sheng)命欺騙蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)。一項對巴(ba)西蜜蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)研究(jiu)顯示,有(you)些(xie)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)并(bing)不(bu)是蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)兒子(zi)(zi),而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)兒子(zi)(zi)。蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群通常有(you)約1500只(zhi)(zhi)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),由一只(zhi)(zhi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)統(tong)治(zhi)。該研究(jiu)發表(biao)在《分(fen)子(zi)(zi)生(sheng)(sheng)態學(xue)》雜志上,研究(jiu)探究(jiu)了45個蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群的(de)(de)(de)近600只(zhi)(zhi)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),研究(jiu)它們的(de)(de)(de)基因(yin)以(yi)查明它們的(de)(de)(de)身(shen)世。結(jie)果顯示,23%的(de)(de)(de)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)不(bu)是蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)(de)后代,而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)后代。工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)通常不(bu)能交配,但能產下非受精卵(luan),這些(xie)卵(luan)子(zi)(zi)可(ke)(ke)以(yi)發育成雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)。為了確保自己的(de)(de)(de)統(tong)治(zhi)地位(wei),蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)(wang)經常會(hui)吃掉工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)產下的(de)(de)(de)卵(luan)子(zi)(zi)。
工蜂繁殖唯一(yi)的(de)(de)好處是這樣做(zuo)它們的(de)(de)壽命(ming)(ming)可以(yi)延長3倍(bei),和蜂后(hou)的(de)(de)壽命(ming)(ming)差不多一(yi)樣長。這是因(yin)為繁殖的(de)(de)工蜂勞作少,不再執行(xing)危險的(de)(de)任務,如覓食、采蜜(mi)。
蜂(feng)(feng)群失(shi)王以后,很容易出現(xian)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產卵(luan)。一般失(shi)王3-5天就可以發現(xian)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產卵(luan)。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產卵(luan)是分散的(de),在一個巢(chao)房產數(shu)粒卵(luan),而且東歪西斜,十分混亂。這些卵(luan)都是未受精(jing)卵(luan),即使(shi)卵(luan)孵(fu)化也只能產體格小(xiao)的(de)雄蜂(feng)(feng)。
發(fa)現(xian)工(gong)蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)以后(hou),及(ji)早誘入一個成熟的(de)王(wang)臺或(huo)(huo)新產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)王(wang),比(bi)較(jiao)容易(yi)被接受(shou)。若誘人蜂(feng)王(wang)發(fa)生困難時,可在上午把(ba)(ba)原箱(xiang)移開0.5m左(zuo)右,在原來(lai)的(de)位置(zhi)上放一個空箱(xiang),讓(rang)工(gong)蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)群的(de)工(gong)蜂(feng)飛(fei)回(hui)原址。晚上,再(zai)把(ba)(ba)工(gong)蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)群的(de)所(suo)有(you)巢脾(pi)提出(chu)(chu),把(ba)(ba)蜂(feng)抖在原箱(xiang)內(nei)餓一夜,第二天(tian)讓(rang)其飛(fei)回(hui)原址。然后(hou)加(jia)脾(pi)進行調整,同(tong)時誘人蜂(feng)王(wang)或(huo)(huo)成熟王(wang)臺。當新蜂(feng)王(wang)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)或(huo)(huo)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)王(wang)誘入成功之后(hou),產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)工(gong)蜂(feng)會(hui)自(zi)然消(xiao)失。但是還須處理不正常的(de)子脾(pi),突出(chu)(chu)的(de)雄蜂(feng)房封(feng)蓋用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)刀切(qie)除,幼蟲用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)搖蜜(mi)(mi)機搖出(chu)(chu);工(gong)蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)的(de)卵(luan)用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)酒(jiu)精噴殺,或(huo)(huo)用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)糖漿泡后(hou)交還蜂(feng)群清理,或(huo)(huo)用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)3%碳酸(suan)鈉溶液灌脾(pi),再(zai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)搖蜜(mi)(mi)機分離出(chu)(chu)卵(luan),以清水洗(xi)凈脾(pi)并(bing)陰干后(hou)使用(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)。如果工(gong)蜂(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)超過(guo)20天(tian)以上,群內(nei)已有(you)大量的(de)雄蜂(feng)及(ji)雄蜂(feng)脾(pi),對(dui)這種(zhong)蜂(feng)群,只能(neng)分散(san)地合并(bing)到其他蜂(feng)群。
工(gong)蜂(feng)由工(gong)蜂(feng)房里的受精卵發育而成的雌性個體,但(dan)生(sheng)殖器官發育不(bu)完全。工(gong)蜂(feng)的身(shen)體比蜂(feng)王和(he)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)小,但(dan)在(zai)蜂(feng)群(qun)中數量極為(wei)龐大(da),它們多(duo)(duo)達幾萬只,有時(shi)可達10萬只或(huo)者更多(duo)(duo)。工(gong)蜂(feng)的壽命雖然比雄(xiong)蜂(feng)長(chang)(chang),但(dan)是一般也僅為(wei)幾個月,很少能夠熬過一個年頭,夏季(ji)4~6周,冬(dong)季(ji)3~6月,其壽命的長(chang)(chang)短與工(gong)作強度、蜂(feng)群(qun)群(qun)勢(shi)有很大(da)的關系。
工蜂(feng)無(wu)愧于"勤(qin)勞"這一稱號,因為歷經短促的一生,它們似乎沒有從(cong)工作(zuo)中停歇下來(lai)過。可以說,它們每天除了(le)吃飯睡覺就是干(gan)活,不辭辛苦(ku),任勞任怨。
蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)中工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)占了大多數(shu),蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)中的(de)大部(bu)分(fen)工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)也(ye)由(you)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)承擔。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)按(an)其生長發(fa)育可以分(fen)為幼(you)年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)、青年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)、壯年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)和老年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),而(er)且隨(sui)日齡(ling)不(bu)同(tong)有一定(ding)分(fen)工(gong)(gong)。其中幼(you)年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)是指(zhi)羽化后1~8日齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)進(jin)行(xing)巢(chao)內工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)(zuo),包括保溫(wen)、煽風、清理(li)巢(chao)房、調(diao)制(zhi)蜜(mi)(mi)粉、飼(si)喂(wei)幼(you)蟲(chong)并(bing)進(jin)行(xing)認(ren)巢(chao)飛翔(xiang);青年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)是指(zhi)8~20日齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)擔任飼(si)喂(wei)小幼(you)蟲(chong)和蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王、清理(li)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)巢(chao)、拖(tuo)棄死蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)或(huo)殘屑、夯實(shi)花(hua)粉、釀蜜(mi)(mi)、筑造巢(chao)脾、用蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)膠(jiao)填(tian)補孔隙(xi)、守衛蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)巢(chao)等(deng)工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)(zuo);壯年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)指(zhi)從(cong)事采(cai)集的(de)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)力工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)采(cai)集花(hua)蜜(mi)(mi)、花(hua)粉、樹膠(jiao)、水(shui)等(deng);而(er)越冬后的(de)老年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)多從(cong)事搜(sou)尋蜜(mi)(mi)源、采(cai)水(shui)等(deng)工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)。