蜂為蜂群(qun)中最(zui)主(zhu)要的種類,個體較蜂王和雄蜂小(xiao)。
1、體灰(hui)褐色,頭、胸、背面(mian)密生(sheng)灰(hui)黃色的細毛;
2、頭(tou)略呈三(san)角形,有(you)復眼(yan)(yan)1對,單眼(yan)(yan)3個,觸角1對,膝狀彎曲;El器(qi)發達,適于咀嚼及吮吸(xi);
3、足3對,股節(jie)、脛節(jie)及跗節(jie)等處均有采(cai)集花粉的構造(zao);
3、腹部圓錐形(xing),背面黃褐色(se)(se),1~4節有黑色(se)(se)環節,末(mo)端尖銳(rui),有毒腺、螯(ao)針;
4、腹上有蠟(la)板4對,內有蠟(la)腺(xian),分(fen)泌蠟(la)質。成年蜂(feng)重80mg,體(ti)長10~13ram。
有(you)研(yan)究人員發現,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)權力(li)也可(ke)能會失(shi)控(kong),一些(xie)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)通過(guo)繁殖來延長(chang)自己的(de)(de)(de)生命(ming)欺騙蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王。一項對巴(ba)西(xi)蜜蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究顯示(shi),有(you)些(xie)雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)并不是蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)兒子,而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)兒子。蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群通常有(you)約1500只工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),由一只蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王統治(zhi)。該研(yan)究發表在(zai)《分子生態學》雜志上(shang),研(yan)究探究了45個(ge)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群的(de)(de)(de)近600只雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng),研(yan)究它們的(de)(de)(de)基因以查明(ming)它們的(de)(de)(de)身(shen)世(shi)。結果顯示(shi),23%的(de)(de)(de)雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)不是蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)后代(dai),而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)后代(dai)。工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)通常不能交配(pei),但能產下非受精卵(luan),這些(xie)卵(luan)子可(ke)以發育成雄(xiong)(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)。為(wei)了確保(bao)自己的(de)(de)(de)統治(zhi)地位,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王經常會吃掉工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產下的(de)(de)(de)卵(luan)子。
工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)繁殖唯(wei)一的(de)(de)好處是這樣做它們(men)的(de)(de)壽(shou)命(ming)可以延(yan)長3倍,和蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)后的(de)(de)壽(shou)命(ming)差不多一樣長。這是因為繁殖的(de)(de)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)勞作少,不再執行危險的(de)(de)任(ren)務,如覓食、采蜜。
蜂(feng)(feng)群失王(wang)以后,很容易出現工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)(luan)。一般(ban)失王(wang)3-5天就可以發現工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)(luan)。工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)(luan)是(shi)分(fen)散的,在(zai)一個巢房產(chan)(chan)數粒卵(luan)(luan)(luan),而(er)且東(dong)歪(wai)西斜,十分(fen)混(hun)亂。這些(xie)卵(luan)(luan)(luan)都是(shi)未(wei)受精卵(luan)(luan)(luan),即(ji)使卵(luan)(luan)(luan)孵(fu)化也(ye)只能產(chan)(chan)體格小的雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)。
發現(xian)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵以后(hou),及早誘(you)(you)入一(yi)個(ge)成熟的(de)(de)王(wang)臺或(huo)新產(chan)(chan)卵王(wang),比較容易被接受。若誘(you)(you)人(ren)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)發生困難(nan)時,可在上(shang)午把原箱(xiang)移開0.5m左(zuo)右,在原來的(de)(de)位置(zhi)上(shang)放一(yi)個(ge)空箱(xiang),讓(rang)(rang)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵群(qun)的(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)飛回(hui)原址。晚上(shang),再(zai)(zai)把工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵群(qun)的(de)(de)所有(you)巢脾(pi)提出(chu),把蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)抖在原箱(xiang)內(nei)餓一(yi)夜(ye),第二天(tian)(tian)讓(rang)(rang)其飛回(hui)原址。然后(hou)加脾(pi)進行調整,同時誘(you)(you)人(ren)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)或(huo)成熟王(wang)臺。當新蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)產(chan)(chan)卵或(huo)產(chan)(chan)卵王(wang)誘(you)(you)入成功(gong)之后(hou),產(chan)(chan)卵工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)會自(zi)然消失(shi)。但(dan)是還須處理(li)不正(zheng)常的(de)(de)子脾(pi),突出(chu)的(de)(de)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)房封蓋用刀切除,幼(you)蟲用搖蜜機搖出(chu);工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)卵用酒精(jing)噴殺,或(huo)用糖漿泡后(hou)交還蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)清理(li),或(huo)用3%碳酸鈉溶液灌脾(pi),再(zai)(zai)用搖蜜機分離(li)出(chu)卵,以清水洗凈脾(pi)并陰(yin)干后(hou)使(shi)用。如果工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)卵超(chao)過20天(tian)(tian)以上(shang),群(qun)內(nei)已有(you)大量(liang)的(de)(de)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)及雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)脾(pi),對這種蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun),只(zhi)能(neng)分散地合并到其他蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)。
工蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)由(you)工蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)房里的(de)受(shou)精卵發育而成(cheng)的(de)雌性個體(ti),但生殖(zhi)器官(guan)發育不完全。工蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)身體(ti)比(bi)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王和雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)小(xiao),但在(zai)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群中數(shu)量極(ji)為龐大,它(ta)們多(duo)(duo)達(da)幾萬只,有(you)時可達(da)10萬只或者更多(duo)(duo)。工蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)的(de)壽命雖然比(bi)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)長,但是(shi)一(yi)般也僅為幾個月,很(hen)少能夠熬過(guo)一(yi)個年頭,夏季4~6周,冬(dong)季3~6月,其(qi)壽命的(de)長短與工作(zuo)強(qiang)度、蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群群勢(shi)有(you)很(hen)大的(de)關系。
工(gong)蜂(feng)無愧于(yu)"勤勞"這一稱號,因(yin)為歷(li)經(jing)短促(cu)的(de)一生,它們(men)似乎沒有從工(gong)作中停歇下來(lai)過。可以(yi)說(shuo),它們(men)每天除了吃飯(fan)睡(shui)覺就(jiu)是(shi)干活(huo),不辭辛苦,任勞任怨(yuan)。
蜂(feng)(feng)群(qun)中工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)占了大多(duo)數,蜂(feng)(feng)群(qun)中的(de)大部分(fen)工(gong)作(zuo)也由工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)承擔。工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)按(an)其生(sheng)長發(fa)育可以分(fen)為(wei)幼年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)、青年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)、壯年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)和老年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng),而且隨日齡不同有一定(ding)分(fen)工(gong)。其中幼年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)主要是(shi)指(zhi)羽化后1~8日齡的(de)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主要進行(xing)(xing)巢內工(gong)作(zuo),包括保溫(wen)、煽(shan)風、清(qing)理巢房、調制(zhi)蜜(mi)粉、飼喂幼蟲(chong)并進行(xing)(xing)認(ren)巢飛翔(xiang);青年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)是(shi)指(zhi)8~20日齡的(de)工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主要擔任飼喂小(xiao)幼蟲(chong)和蜂(feng)(feng)王(wang)、清(qing)理蜂(feng)(feng)巢、拖棄(qi)死蜂(feng)(feng)或(huo)殘屑、夯實花粉、釀蜜(mi)、筑造巢脾(pi)、用蜂(feng)(feng)膠填補(bu)孔隙(xi)、守(shou)衛蜂(feng)(feng)巢等(deng)工(gong)作(zuo);壯年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)指(zhi)從(cong)事(shi)采集的(de)主力工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),主要采集花蜜(mi)、花粉、樹膠、水(shui)等(deng);而越冬后的(de)老年(nian)(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)多(duo)從(cong)事(shi)搜尋蜜(mi)源、采水(shui)等(deng)工(gong)作(zuo)。