蜂(feng)為蜂(feng)群中最主要的種類,個(ge)體(ti)較蜂(feng)王和雄(xiong)蜂(feng)小。
1、體灰(hui)(hui)褐色,頭、胸(xiong)、背面密(mi)生灰(hui)(hui)黃(huang)色的細毛;
2、頭略呈三角形,有復眼(yan)1對,單眼(yan)3個(ge),觸角1對,膝狀彎曲;El器發(fa)達,適(shi)于咀嚼及(ji)吮吸;
3、足3對,股節、脛節及跗節等(deng)處均有采集花粉(fen)的構造;
3、腹部圓錐(zhui)形(xing),背面黃褐色(se),1~4節(jie)有(you)黑色(se)環節(jie),末端尖(jian)銳,有(you)毒腺、螯針;
4、腹(fu)上有(you)蠟板4對,內有(you)蠟腺,分泌(mi)蠟質。成年蜂重(zhong)80mg,體長10~13ram。
有(you)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)人員(yuan)發(fa)現,蜂(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)權力也(ye)可能會失控,一(yi)些工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)通過繁殖來延長自己的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)命欺(qi)騙蜂(feng)(feng)王。一(yi)項對(dui)巴西蜜蜂(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)顯示,有(you)些雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)并不(bu)是蜂(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)兒子(zi),而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)兒子(zi)。蜂(feng)(feng)群通常(chang)有(you)約1500只工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng),由一(yi)只蜂(feng)(feng)王統(tong)治。該研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)發(fa)表(biao)在《分子(zi)生(sheng)態(tai)學》雜志上(shang),研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)探究(jiu)了(le)45個蜂(feng)(feng)群的(de)(de)(de)近600只雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng),研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)它們的(de)(de)(de)基因以查(cha)明它們的(de)(de)(de)身(shen)世。結果顯示,23%的(de)(de)(de)雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)不(bu)是蜂(feng)(feng)王的(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)代(dai),而是工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)的(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)代(dai)。工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)通常(chang)不(bu)能交配,但能產下非(fei)受精卵,這些卵子(zi)可以發(fa)育成雄(xiong)蜂(feng)(feng)。為了(le)確保自己的(de)(de)(de)統(tong)治地(di)位,蜂(feng)(feng)王經(jing)常(chang)會吃掉工(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)產下的(de)(de)(de)卵子(zi)。
工蜂繁殖唯一的好處是(shi)(shi)這(zhe)樣做它(ta)們(men)的壽命可以延(yan)長3倍,和(he)蜂后(hou)的壽命差不多一樣長。這(zhe)是(shi)(shi)因為繁殖的工蜂勞作少,不再(zai)執行危險(xian)的任(ren)務(wu),如覓食、采蜜。
蜂群失王以后(hou),很(hen)容易(yi)出現工蜂產(chan)卵(luan)。一(yi)般失王3-5天就(jiu)可以發現工蜂產(chan)卵(luan)。工蜂產(chan)卵(luan)是分(fen)散的,在一(yi)個巢(chao)房產(chan)數粒卵(luan),而且(qie)東歪(wai)西(xi)斜,十分(fen)混亂。這些卵(luan)都是未受精卵(luan),即使卵(luan)孵化也只能產(chan)體格小(xiao)的雄蜂。
發(fa)現工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)以后(hou),及早誘入一個成(cheng)熟(shu)的(de)(de)王(wang)(wang)臺或(huo)(huo)新(xin)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)王(wang)(wang),比較容易被接受(shou)。若誘人蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)發(fa)生(sheng)困難時,可在(zai)上(shang)午(wu)把原(yuan)箱(xiang)移開0.5m左右,在(zai)原(yuan)來的(de)(de)位置上(shang)放(fang)一個空箱(xiang),讓工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)群(qun)(qun)的(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)飛回原(yuan)址。晚上(shang),再把工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)群(qun)(qun)的(de)(de)所有巢脾(pi)(pi)(pi)提出(chu)(chu),把蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)抖在(zai)原(yuan)箱(xiang)內(nei)餓一夜,第二天讓其飛回原(yuan)址。然(ran)后(hou)加脾(pi)(pi)(pi)進(jin)行(xing)調整(zheng),同時誘人蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)或(huo)(huo)成(cheng)熟(shu)王(wang)(wang)臺。當(dang)新(xin)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)(wang)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)或(huo)(huo)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)王(wang)(wang)誘入成(cheng)功之后(hou),產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)會自然(ran)消失。但是還須處理不正常(chang)的(de)(de)子脾(pi)(pi)(pi),突(tu)出(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)房(fang)封蓋用(yong)(yong)刀切(qie)除,幼蟲用(yong)(yong)搖蜜機搖出(chu)(chu);工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)卵(luan)(luan)用(yong)(yong)酒精噴(pen)殺(sha),或(huo)(huo)用(yong)(yong)糖漿泡(pao)后(hou)交還蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)(qun)清理,或(huo)(huo)用(yong)(yong)3%碳酸鈉溶(rong)液灌脾(pi)(pi)(pi),再用(yong)(yong)搖蜜機分(fen)離(li)出(chu)(chu)卵(luan)(luan),以清水洗凈脾(pi)(pi)(pi)并(bing)陰干(gan)后(hou)使用(yong)(yong)。如(ru)果工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)(chan)卵(luan)(luan)超(chao)過20天以上(shang),群(qun)(qun)內(nei)已有大量的(de)(de)雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)及雄蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)脾(pi)(pi)(pi),對(dui)這種蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)(qun),只能分(fen)散地合(he)并(bing)到其他蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)(qun)。
工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)由工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)房里的(de)受精卵發育而成的(de)雌性(xing)個(ge)體,但(dan)生殖器官發育不完全。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)的(de)身體比(bi)蜂(feng)王和(he)雄蜂(feng)小(xiao),但(dan)在蜂(feng)群(qun)中數量極為(wei)龐大(da),它們多達幾萬(wan)只(zhi),有時可(ke)達10萬(wan)只(zhi)或者更多。工(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)的(de)壽(shou)命雖(sui)然(ran)比(bi)雄蜂(feng)長(chang),但(dan)是一般也僅為(wei)幾個(ge)月,很少能夠熬過(guo)一個(ge)年頭(tou),夏季4~6周,冬季3~6月,其壽(shou)命的(de)長(chang)短與工(gong)(gong)作強度(du)、蜂(feng)群(qun)群(qun)勢有很大(da)的(de)關系。
工蜂無(wu)愧于(yu)"勤(qin)勞(lao)"這一稱號,因為(wei)歷經(jing)短促(cu)的一生,它們似(si)乎(hu)沒(mei)有(you)從工作中(zhong)停歇下來(lai)過(guo)。可以說(shuo),它們每(mei)天除(chu)了吃飯(fan)睡(shui)覺就是干活,不辭辛苦,任勞(lao)任怨(yuan)。
蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)中工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)占了大多數,蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)群(qun)中的(de)大部分(fen)(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)也由工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)承擔。工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)按其生長發育可以分(fen)(fen)為幼年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)、青年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)、壯(zhuang)(zhuang)年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)和老年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),而且(qie)隨日(ri)齡(ling)不(bu)同有一定分(fen)(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)。其中幼年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)主(zhu)要是(shi)指羽化后1~8日(ri)齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要進行巢(chao)內工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo),包括保溫、煽風、清理巢(chao)房、調制蜜(mi)粉、飼(si)喂幼蟲(chong)并進行認巢(chao)飛翔(xiang);青年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)是(shi)指8~20日(ri)齡(ling)的(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要擔任飼(si)喂小幼蟲(chong)和蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)王(wang)、清理蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)巢(chao)、拖棄死蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)或殘屑、夯實花粉、釀蜜(mi)、筑造巢(chao)脾、用蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)膠(jiao)填補孔隙、守衛(wei)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)巢(chao)等工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo);壯(zhuang)(zhuang)年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)指從事采集的(de)主(zhu)力工(gong)(gong)(gong)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng),主(zhu)要采集花蜜(mi)、花粉、樹膠(jiao)、水等;而越冬后的(de)老年(nian)(nian)蜂(feng)(feng)(feng)多從事搜尋蜜(mi)源、采水等工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)。