Content
The structure of the bee is considered so unique that there is a special science in biology that studies the external and internal structure of honey bees - apiology. In Europe, the term sounds like apidology and includes research on all types of bees.
The external structure of the bee
Bees, like other insect species, lack a skeleton. Its role can be performed by a complex skin, which contains chitin.
The color of the bee and its body structure makes it possible to distinguish the insect from all other species. The body has a clear distribution and consists of three sections:
- head;
- chest;
- abdomen.
Each of these departments fulfills a certain significance in the life of an insect and includes a certain set of organs. On the sides of the head are two compound eyes, between which there are three simple ones. Each eye perceives some part of the picture, and in the aggregate, all this is transformed into a single image. Scientists call this type of vision mosaic. The eye consists of a lens, and there are small hairs around it.
With the help of complex eyes, insects can see objects that are far away, due to which they orient themselves during their flight in space. Simple eyes allow the formation of an image in close proximity, which allows the insect to collect pollen.
If we look at the bee's mouth apparatus, then we can see that in the lower part of the head there is a proboscis, which includes the lower jaw and lower lip. The length of the proboscis can vary depending on the species and varies from 5.6 to 7.3 mm. Since the internal organs are located in the abdomen, this part is the largest and heaviest.
You can see the structure of the honey bee in the photo below.
How many eyes does a bee have and how does it see the world around it?
In total, the insect has five eyes. Of these, 3 are simple, they are located on the frontal part of the bee's head, the rest are complex, located on the sides. Simple eyes differ little from each other, but complex ones have significant differences in size and number of facets, for example:
- the queen of the hive has compound eyes located on the sides, the number of facets reaches 4 thousand;
- the eyes of a working bee have the shape of an oval, while they are much smaller and number 5 thousand. facets;
- more complex eyes in drones. As a rule, they are rather large in size and are connected in the frontal part; the number of cells can exceed 10 thousand pieces.
Due to the special structure of the eyes, insects can see three-dimensional objects, while the shape may differ from what a person sees. For example, insects are very poor at perceiving geometric shapes. They see color forms much more clearly. Individuals show the greatest interest in objects that move. In addition, bees can read light vibrations and use this for orientation in space.
How many wings does a bee have
In total, the bee has four wings, while the two front wings completely cover the pair of the rear ones. During the flight, they are connected in one plane.
Individuals set their wings in motion with the help of the pectoral muscles. It should be noted that up to 450 flaps of the wings can be carried out in one second.In a minute, an insect can fly 1 km, but an individual carrying nectar flies much slower. That is, a bee heading for honey flies faster than an individual returning with prey.
In search of nectar, insects can fly away from the apiary by a maximum of 11 km, but most often they fly around at a distance of no more than two km from the hives. This is due to the fact that the further the insect flies, the less nectar will be brought home.
How many legs does a bee have
If we look at the structure of a bee in the picture, then it is worth noting that it has 3 pairs of legs, and they all differ from each other. The middle pair is the least specialized in structure. Each foot consists of the following parts:
- basin;
- swivel;
- hip;
- shin;
- tarsus with 5 segments.
In addition, there are claws on the legs that allow insects to cling to the surface during movement. The front legs resemble hands in appearance, they are quite powerful. Insects use them to perform various types of work. The hind limbs are equipped with special devices called baskets.
Bee anatomy
The peculiarity of the internal structure of the bee is the presence of organs with the help of which the production of honey is carried out. This applies to the insect's digestive system, namely, the presence of special organs - the honey goiter and the pharyngeal gland. In the goiter, insects store nectar, and with the help of enzymes, the process of converting nectar into honey is carried out.
Thanks to the developed muscular and nervous system, insects fly quickly enough, build honeycombs, extract and process nectar. Such activity is only possible due to the continuous breathing process.
Does a bee have a heart
Believe it or not, bees have a heart. In appearance, the heart of an insect resembles a long tube, which is located in the upper part of the body and runs through the entire back to the head. Much thinner tubes stretch through the bee's chest, they are called aortas. Hemolymph flows from the aorta into the cavity of the head of the insect. The tube is securely fixed by muscle fibers to the back of the insect and has 5 chambers communicating with each other. With the help of such chambers, the hemolymph is transmitted, while the substance moves only in one direction - from the abdomen to the head.
Particularly noteworthy is the sound produced, which may differ in pitch and timbre. Each family emits an individual buzz, depending on the physiological state. It is thanks to the sounds emitted that the beekeepers determine and control the state of the individuals. Thanks to the humming tone, experienced beekeepers can understand the following:
- insects are cold;
- food has run out;
- the family plans to swarm;
- the queen of the hive is present;
- the queen of the hive is either dead or gone.
In addition, you can understand how the family relates to the new queen if the old or deceased queen has been replaced.
How many stomachs does a bee have
When conducting regular studies of the structure of the insect's body, the following surprising facts were revealed:
- the insect has 2 stomachs, one for digestion, and the other for honey;
- the stomach for honey does not produce digestive juices.
An enzyme is produced in the stomach, thanks to which the nectar is broken down into honey and fructose. Under the action of the enzyme, the nectar is completely broken down, the insects begin to release pure nectar into the cells intended for storing honey.
Insects get honey from nectar, which, in turn, is almost 80% water and sugar. With the help of the proboscis, the bees suck it out and deposit it in the stomach, intended exclusively for honey.
In order to completely fill the stomach, insects need to fly around from 100 to 1500 flowers.
How bees breathe
Considering the respiratory system of bees, it can be noted that a network of trachea of different lengths is located throughout the insect's body. Air sacs are located along the body, which are used as a reservoir for oxygen. These cavities are interconnected by special transverse shafts.
In total, the bee has nine pairs of spiracles:
- three pairs are located in the chest area;
- six are in the abdominal region.
Air enters the body of the insect which spiracles, which are located on the abdomen, and through the chest spiracles goes back. On the walls of the spiracles there are a large number of hairs that perform a protective function and prevent dust from entering.
In addition, the spiracles have a device that allows you to close the lumen of the trachea. Air moves through the air sacs and trachea. At the moment when the bee's abdomen is expanded, air begins to flow from the spiracles into the trachea and air sacs. When the abdomen contracts, air is released. After that, air enters from the air sacs into the trachea and is carried throughout the body of the individual. When all the oxygen is absorbed by the cells, carbon dioxide is released to the outside.
Conclusion
The structure of the bee is of interest to many, and this is not surprising, because hardworking insects can only be admired. Bees lead an active lifestyle - they fly pretty quickly, collect nectar, and then transform it into honey. The study of bees continues to this day, as a result of which you can constantly learn more and more new facts about them.
