Spring Quarter 2000
COURSE GOALS: The goals include: 1) to introduce the honey bee as a social animal and a model for integrating biological principles and concepts; 2) to demonstrate the use and significance of honey bees in biological research and teaching, and in the agricultural industry; 3) to explore the impact of honey bees on the environment and our society; 4) to introduce the chemical and physical characteristics of hive products and their uses; and 5) to improve expository writing skills.
ENTRY LEVEL: Biological Sciences 10 is desirable, but not required.
COURSE FORMAT: Three lectures per week. Reading in the syllabus and text to complement lectures. Grading is based on two mid-terms, a final exam, and expository writing skills. If time permits, there may be a field trip to the UCD Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility.
SUBJECT OUTLINE: Orders of lectures are subject to change, particularly guest lecture dates, but generally will follow the sequence of subjects as presented in the syllabus.
1. Introduction to course and organization.
2. Honey bees of the world.
3. Life history and nest structure.
4. History of beekeeping.
5. The honey bees- structure and function.
6. Relatives of the honey bee.
7. Intra-colony activities of worker bees-Division of labor and comb construction.
8. Intra-colony activities of worker bees- Brood rearing, and storage of food.
9. Extra-colony activities-Orientation and foraging.
10. First mid-term exam.
11. The drone bees-Biology and behavior.
12. The queen bees-Biology and behavior.
13. Queen rearing-Concept and methods.
14. Nature of communicated information.
15. Mechanism of information transfer-the dancing language.
16. Chemical communication-Pheromones and sensory system.
17. Second mid-term exam.
18. Diseases, parasites and pests of honey bees.
19. Beekeeping equipment and management of bee colonies for various purposes.
20. Seasonal management of bee colonies.
21. Honey bee genetics and bee breeding.
22. Hive products- Honey (chemical and physical properties, and utilization).
23. Hive products-Venom, propolis and royal jelly (chemical and physical properties, and utilization).
24. Hive products-Beeswax and pollen (chemical and physical properties, and utilization).
25. Pollination-Floral biology and adaptation.
26. Pollination-Significance to the environment and agriculture.
27. Africanized honey bees-origin, distribution, and potential impacts on our society (Dr. Eric Mussen).
28. Africanized honey bees- biology and behavior.
29. Use of honey bees for recreation, teaching and research.