Beekeeping terminology

Beekeeping as a sector specialised in the production of honey and other bee products has a specific terminology. This beekeeping terminology is used by all beekeepers, and we, as beekeeping enthusiasts, make it known to you. Also, by knowing these words well, you will be able to understand any beekeeper you come across much better.

Related articles: Where to buy quality raw honey?

Summary: Beekeeping terminology used by all beekeepers. Also, in our shop in Las Rozas de Madrid you can find a fantastic selection of monofloral and multifloral honeys from Spain.

1. Beekeeping terminology of the beehive

First of all, the terminology used to describe part of the hive is as follows:

a) Piquera

The piquera would be the entrance door to the hive. This is a small opening in the bottom of the hive, or in a tree trunk or crevice where the bees enter and leave the hive.

b) Upper hive

The supers are rectangular hive extensions that are added to the hive as the hive fills up wit

When the hive grows too fast and has not been sufficiently superseded, the hive leaves and looks for a new place to settle. This new settlement is called swarming and usually happens in spring when there is plenty of food available and the beekeeper has not had time to check his hives.

2. Bee terminology

Secondly, the terminology to describe bee actions and other bee related concepts are as follows:

a) Tropholaxy

Trophallaxis is the process of passing food such as nectar, honey or other substances between bees. During this process, enzymes and pheronomes are exchanged between the bees.

There are two types of trophallaxis:

• Worker-to-worker:

This is the most common type of tropholaxy among bees. In this tropholaxy they exchange nectar or water brought by the worker bees. In addition, information about the location, availability and quality of the floral source is provided during this process. There is also an exchange of pheromones which is very important for the social cohesion and health of all bees.

• Discharge

In this tropholaxy the bees resurface the nectar or water in order to ripen the nectar and transform it into honey. All this before depositing it in the cells.

• Queen-Worker

In this process there is a tropholaxis between the queen bee and the worker bees. This takes place during the laying period, so that the worker bees know that the queen is active and healthy.

• Brood collecting brood bees:

In this process we have a tropholaxy between the nurse bees and foragers. This is done to find out the needs of the brood in the hive.

• Drones:

Whenever drones are present in the hive, they also assist in the tropholaxy of the worker bees. Therefore, they contribute within the hive to the removal of water concentration during the process of transformation of nectar or honeydew into honey.

b) Grazing

Foraging is the foraging activity of the adulterous bees outside the hive. Thus, foraging for nectar, honeydew and water to feed the hive and to make honey.

c) Social stomach or honey crop

Bees have two stomachs. One of them, where they incorporate the food and pass it among themselves, is called the social stomach or honey gullet. The second one would be their own, which is the one they use for feeding.

d) Plundering

This is the action carried out by some bees when food is scarce, which consists of taking food from other nearby hives. This usually occurs in early spring and late autumn, when food may be scarce.

e) Corbiculae

Also called pollen basket. This is the anatomical part of the hind legs of worker bees. This anatomical part is used to transport pollen from the flower to the hive. Drones do not have it.

f) Stinger

A pointed organ at the end of the thorax used to inject bee venom, apitoxin. This organ is atrophied in queen bees as it is used for egg laying.

g) Nasanoff’s gland

The Nasanoff’s gland is an organ located in their stomach and the pheronomes they produce help to keep the whole hive in cohesion.

h) Proboscis of bees

The proboscis is a mouth organ of bees that is also found in other insects such as butterflies, which use it to extract nectar from flowers, capture water and perform tropholaxy. This organ is elongated and has the shape of a trunk or tentacle.

3. Terminology of the beekeeper’s products

Among the utensils used by the beekeeper, we have:

a) Smoker

The smoker is an instrument used to make smoke to scare bees away from the hive. The purpose is to prevent the bees from stinging the beekeeper. In the case of bees, they see smoke and think there is a fire and flee from their hive.

The smoke from the smoker is achieved by introducing some stubble into the smoker and setting it on fire.

b) De-operculating

The process of removing the outermost layer of wax that closes the cells. This is done with a de-operculator and in this way the honey can come out.

c) Mask of the beekeeper’s costume

This is the part of the beekeeper’s suit that includes the hat and the transparent cloth that covers the beekeeper’s entire face. The purpose of this is to cover the head completely and to avoid both discomfort from bees and stings.

Source:

Ecocolmena