The Importance of Bee Queens in Colony Life UPSC

BEES

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Context: The majority of the bee species are solitary, lacking queens; they lay eggs in simple nests and independently care for them. In contrast, social bee species such as honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees live in colonies with queens and intricate structures.

Details

Bees have queens as a crucial aspect of their social structure, which has evolved as a strategy for the survival and reproduction of the colony. The presence of queens is particularly evident in species like honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees.

About Bees
Feature	Description
Species	Over 20,000 known species, categorized into 7 main families: ●Apidae (honey bees, bumblebees) ●Megachilidae (leafcutter bees, mason bees) ●Colletidae (sweat bees) ● Andrenidae (andrena bees) ●Halictidae (sweat bees) ● Stenotritidae (dilophon bees) ● Melittidae (melittid bees)
Classification	Insects in the order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita, are closely related to wasps and ants.
Size	Varies greatly depending on species: ● Dwarf bees: 2-3 millimeters (smaller than a mosquito) ●Giant honey bee: Up to 4 centimetres (wingspan)
Social Behavior	Social bees: Live in highly organized colonies with distinct castes: ●Queen: Reproduces, lays eggs ●Workers: Females, sterile, perform all colony tasks except reproduction (foraging, nest building, brood care) ●Drones: Males, sole purpose is mating with the queen Solitary bees: Live alone, each female builds her own nest, provisions it with pollen and nectar, lays eggs, and cares for young until they emerge as adults.
Diet	Primarily nectar and pollen: ●Nectar: Provides carbohydrates for energy ●Pollen: Provides protein, vitamins, and minerals for growth and development Some bee species may also consume other liquids like honeydew (sap excreted by insects)
Habitat	●Found on every continent except Antarctica. ●Diverse habitats include: Forests, Grasslands, Deserts, Mountains, and Urban areas (with access to flowering plants).
Body	●Divided into three sections: head, thorax, abdomen ●Two pairs of membranous wings for flight ●Six legs for walking, climbing, and manipulating objects ●Body covered in branched hairs that aid in pollen collection ●Most female bees have a stinger, a modified ovipositor used for defence and egg-laying ●Male bees lack stingers
Reproduction	A complex process that varies slightly between social and solitary bees: ●Social bees: Queen lays fertilized eggs (develop into females) and unfertilized eggs (develop into males). Workers care for larvae and pupae. ●Solitary bees: The female provisions a nest cell with pollen and nectar, lays a single egg, seals the cell, and may repeat for multiple cells. Larva feeds on provisions, pupates, and emerges as an adult.
Importance	Pollination: Essential pollinators for a wide variety of flowering plants. By transferring pollen between flowers, bees enable plant reproduction and ensure fruit and vegetable production for humans. Honey production: Honey bees produce honey, a valued food source for humans with medicinal properties. Biodiversity: Bees contribute to healthy ecosystems by supporting a diversity of plant life.
Threats	●Habitat loss due to deforestation and urbanization ●Pesticide use, which can directly kill bees or harm their food sources ●Climate change, impacting flowering times and bee behaviour ●Parasites and diseases
Communication	Social bees use a complex communication system called the waggle dance to share information about food sources, distance, and direction with other colony members.

Why do bees have queens?

Division of Labor

One fundamental reason for having queens in bee colonies is the division of labour. In a bee colony, there are different castes with specific roles:

Queen Bee: The queen's primary role is reproduction. She lays eggs, potentially thousands each day, ensuring the colony's continuity.
Worker Bees: Female worker bees perform various tasks such as foraging for food (nectar and pollen), building and maintaining the hive, nursing the brood (developing larvae), and defending the colony.
Drones: Male bees primarily exist for mating with queens. They do not engage in tasks related to colony maintenance.

Reproductive Strategy - Kin Selection:

The presence of queens in bee colonies is linked to a reproductive strategy known as kin selection. In a colony, the queen is the mother of all the worker bees. As workers are sterile females, they help the queen raise her offspring.
From an evolutionary perspective, the workers share a significant portion of their genes with the queen and her offspring. By assisting in the reproduction of their closely related kin, worker bees indirectly pass on their genetic material.

Egg-Laying Capacity

Queens are specialized for prolific egg-laying. A single queen can lay a large number of eggs, ensuring a continuous supply of new individuals in the colony. This high reproductive capacity is crucial for colony growth and survival.

Complex Hive Structures

Bee colonies, especially those of honey bees, construct complex hive structures made of beeswax. These structures serve multiple functions, including storing honey, providing shelter, and raising the brood. The construction and maintenance of such intricate hives require a well-organized workforce with a division of labour.

Mating Behavior and Genetic Diversity

Queens mate with drones from other colonies, promoting genetic diversity within the population. This genetic diversity can enhance the colony's adaptability and resilience to environmental changes and challenges.

Colony Maintenance and Survival

The queen's role as the sole egg layer allows worker bees to focus on other essential tasks for colony maintenance. Worker bees take care of foraging, nursing, and hive defence, contributing to the overall survival and efficiency of the colony.

Evolutionary Advantage

Bee colonies with a queen-reproductive system and a division of labour have likely evolved due to the advantages it offers in terms of efficient resource utilization, colony defence, and reproduction.

Comparison with Other Social Insects

The presence of queens in bee colonies draws parallels with other social insects such as ants, termites, and wasps, where similar reproductive strategies and division of labour are observed.

Conclusion

The existence of queens in bee colonies is a result of a complex interplay of evolutionary forces that favour efficient resource utilization, division of labour, and a reproductive strategy centred around kin selection. The social structure with queens enhances the colony's chances of survival and success in their environment.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Bumblebees are important pollinators because:

1. They are active at lower temperatures than honeybees.

2. They can vibrate their wings rapidly to release pollen from flowers.

3. They have a longer proboscis that allows them to reach deeper into flowers.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) All three

D) None

Answer: C

Explanation:

Active at lower temperatures than honeybees: This statement is correct. Bumblebees are well-adapted to cooler temperatures compared to honeybees. They can fly and forage for nectar and pollen in cooler conditions, making them important pollinators in colder climates.

Can vibrate their wings rapidly to release pollen from flowers: This statement is correct. Bumblebees exhibit a behaviour called "buzz pollination" or "sonication." They can rapidly vibrate their flight muscles, creating vibrations that dislodge pollen from the anthers of certain flowers. This unique ability allows them to access pollen that other pollinators might not reach.

Have a longer proboscis that allows them to reach deeper into flowers: This statement is correct. Bumblebees have a relatively long proboscis (tongue), which enables them to access nectar in flowers with deeper tubes. This adaptation allows them to pollinate a variety of flowers with different shapes and sizes.

In summary, all three statements about bumblebees are correct, making option C) "All three" the correct answer.