Stages of development of bee larvae

Knowledge of the basic rules of bee breeding is useful for both experienced beekeepers and novice lovers. Without this, you can forget about a good harvest. Consider the main stages of development of these insects from egg to adult.

What do they look like

The bee larva does not resemble an adult insect and is fundamentally different from it about the same way as a butterfly from a caterpillar. Wasps, bumblebees and ants also undergo a complete reincarnation. An adult individual is an independent, aggressive bee, while its larva, on the contrary, is completely inert and unable to take care of itself. Thus, they are at different stages of the food chain and do not compete with each other for food, but use the nearest resources. Bee larvae may differ in size depending on the species. Consider what the larva looks like externally. The embryo has a large rounded body, divided into segments. Paws, as a rule, are immobilized, so they can move only by wriggling crawling.The body length of the larva is less than that of an adult individual, and the thickness, on the contrary, is greater.

The color of the bee germ is predominantly white or light yellow. Their head is very small and is represented mainly by the jaws. They often eat and eat a lot of animal and plant food that requires thorough chewing.

Stages of development and diet

During growth, the larva of the bee changes its name and appearance. Each stage of development has its own characteristic features, growth time, dietary habits, and the basis of behavior. Consider each of them separately.

Egg

All bees grow out of eggs produced by the womb. It vertically attaches the eggs to the bottom of the cell. After the first day, the egg begins to bend a little and on the third day it completely falls to the bottom. From it a tiny white larva is obtained. For the first three days, the uterus gives the larva milk, laying it in the same cell, and then feeding it with honey and perga. The first stage is the same for the eggs of the uterus, the bee and the drone and lasts three days.

Larva

During six days the larva develops very quickly.As food for the first 3 days, she receives a lot of milk from the nurse. On the fourth day begins to absorb honey and pergou. At this stage, the bee larvae is rapidly developing and gaining weight from 0.1 mg to about 150 mg. When it no longer fits on the bottom of its cell, it moves to the exit with its head and stretches along. At this time, the power stops.

Nursing bees use a single perga cell to feed the embryo. After six days, the uterus seals cells with brood with a special composition of flower pollen and wax, leaving a tiny hole for air. The cells with larvae of the uterus of the bee clog after 5 days, and with the drones - after 7 days. In such a shelter, they create a cocoon around themselves and are thus transformed into a precollection.

Precalcula

In the developmental stage of the prepupae, the larva of the bee and the uterus spend 2 days, the drone - 4 days. At the end of this process, another shed begins at the embryo. As a result, the old shell is discarded at the beginning of the cell and mixed with the secretions remaining after spinning the cocoon.

Baby doll

The pupal stage in the uterine larva lasts 6 days. This is the last stage before the release of the adult individual from the cell. Until the 21st day, the pupa is immobilized in a cocoon without food due to the expenditure of accumulated food in reserve. With the last molt, the process of transforming the pupa into a bee is completed. During this period, a skeleton is formed in it, it acquires a dark characteristic color. If you look at the bee through the lid on the cell, you can find already formed mature brood. Before going out, the bee changes its skin once more and gradually gnaws the lid of the cell to go outside. An empty cocoon remains in the cell for future generations.

Adult

Newborn insects have a large number of hairs over the entire surface, including the legs and head. In the first three days of their existence, young individuals learn about the world around them, feed on older bees, and get acquainted with the uterus, when they are in contact with their antennae.So they try to remember how it smells. On the fourth day, they themselves begin to eat honey and pollen, produce from them food for the larvae and even feed the latter themselves. Juveniles are also busy cleaning the cells for laying eggs out. These bees are called the nurse, for one season each of them grows up to 3-4 larvae. Acceptance bees that are 6 or more days old receive feed from bee collectors and make forage for larvae and uterus from it.

Insects become collectors after 2-3 weeks, they actively collect pollen and nectar. The older generation, who have wax glands, are building new honeycombs with wax.

Uterus, worker bee, drone

The basis of the bee swarm is working bees. They are responsible for the full provision of the whole family from birth to reproduction. They are entrusted with the functions of construction and protection of housing, preparation and preparation of food, cleaning of honeycombs and much more. Despite such a large number of tasks performed, the toiler is inferior in size to the drone and womb. Its weight is no more than 100 mg. They cannot mate with drones and lay eggs for lack of full-fledged female genital organs. Fertilization of the uterus in the bee colony is carried by drones, which are males. Immediately after communicating with the female, they die, as they lose part of their genital organ. Drones are born in spring and continue their livelihood until autumn, while they can breed. Growing up in drones occurs on the 10-14th day after leaving the cell.

At the end of summer, with the onset of autumn, the production of drones is suspended or they are generally banished. Staying for the winter is a chance only for those males who have no queen in their family. During the active season, one family can have up to several thousand drones. The order of development of drones and bees practically does not differ, the difference is only in time. The larva grows to the desired size on the 10th day, then sealing occurs. The transformation from a pupa into a drone takes place on the 25th day. After that, in 8 days, the genitals are formed, and in general, an adult male grows up in 33 days. The uterus is the head of the bee family, it is she who is responsible for the emergence of new individuals. The uterus develops just like ordinary bees.The only difference is that its larva is formed not in a cell, but in a special bowl on the frame. The first 8 days the brood remains open, and on the 17th day the pupa turns into a queen. On the 21st day of its existence, the uterus is ready to conceive.

Little about the benefits

Bee larvae are an effective remedy for many diseases. They are also used for the prevention and strengthening of immunity.

Due to its composition, rich in enzymes, the larvae help in the treatment of the thyroid gland, increase pressure, help to cope with stress. Besides, They have a number of additional useful features:

• help reduce cholesterol;
• positively affect the cardiovascular system;
• regulate blood circulation;
• they treat prostate adenoma;
• increase energy and performance.

The considered stages of the formation of bee individuals and the development of their families give an idea of ​​the nuances that beekeepers should pay attention to when breeding these insects in order to achieve high results in obtaining honey harvest.