Treasures from the Hive

LOUPE-ABEILLE

What is its role for bees?

It is their main source of energy and so is essential for flying, heating the hive, and surviving the winter

Honey

A natural sweet substance produced by bees from flower nectar

How do bees make it?

  • They collect the nectar with their proboscis
  • they stock it in their crop
  • then they transfer it to other bees
  • they dehydrate it by fanning it
  • then they store it in the cells of the hive and seal it in!

What is its role for bees?

  • Natural disinfectant: it kills microbes, bacteria and fungi.
  • Insulation: it seals holes and reinforces walls.
  • Mummification of intruders: if a small animal enters and dies in the hive, they cover it with propolis to prevent infection.

La Propolis

Propolis is the natural glue that bees use to keep their home in good condition.

How do bees make it?

They take resin from trees and mix it with wax.

What is its role for bees?

  • A larva fed solely on royal jelly becomes a queen!
  • A larva fed royal jelly for its first 3 days becomes a worker bee

Royal jelly

A very rich superfood, produced by young nurse bees.

How do bees make it?

Nurse bees produce royal jelly using small glands located in their heads (called hypopharyngeal glands, if you really want to know!)

What is its role for bees?

Source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Essential for larval growth

Pollen

Also called “bee bread”; essential for biodiversity.

How do bees make it?

They collect it on their hind legs, in pollen baskets, in the form of small coloured pellets.

What is its role for bees?

Construction of honeycombs, storage of honey, pollen storage, raising of larvae.

It forms the entire internal architecture of the hive!

Wax

A material made by bees to build the honeycomb.

How do bees make it ?

Using the wax glands located under the abdomen of young bees.
The wax comes out in the form of small white scales. 

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