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Beekeeping in Northern Climates <br />The Superorganism <br />+RQH\EHHVDUHVRFLDOLQVHFWVWKDWOLYHWRJHWKHULQ <br />large numbers forming a colony. The honey bee <br />colony is truly an excellent example of the whole <br />being greater than the sum of its parts, and for that <br />reason is often referred to as a “superorganism.” <br />8QOLNHPDQ\RIWKHZLOGQDWLYHEHHVDQLQGLYLGXDO <br />honey bee cannot live on its own because it cannot <br />FDUU\RXWDOOWKHIXQFWLRQVQHFHVVDU\IRUOLIH+RZHYHU <br />when that individual is part of a colony, it contributes <br />some small but essential part to the overall existence <br />of the colony. The total contribution made by the <br />thousands of bees in a colony enables them to <br />EHÀH[LEOHDQGUHVLOLHQWLQWKHIDFHRIFKDQJLQJ <br />challenges and climate conditions. <br />A colony consists of a single queen, many thousands <br />RIZRUNHUVDIHZWRVHYHUDOKXQGUHGGURQHV )LJXUH <br /> DQGWKRXVDQGVRIGHYHORSLQJEHHV HJJVODUYDH <br />DQGSXSDH WKDWDUHUHIHUUHGWRFROOHFWLYHO\DVEURRG <br />7KHZRUNHUEHHVVHFUHWHZD[IURPJODQGVRQWKHLU <br />abdomen and construct vertically hanging wax honey <br />comb. These hexagonal wax cells are used for <br />rearing brood as well as for storing pollen and honey. <br />In the center of the nest is an area called the brood <br />QHVWZKHUHWKHEURRGLVUHDUHG )LJXUH +HUHWKH <br />DGXOWZRUNHUEHHVPDLQWDLQDWHPSHUDWXUHEHWZHHQ <br />ƒ)3ROOHQDQGKRQH\DUHVWRUHGDURXQGWKH <br />SHULPHWHURIWKHEURRGQHVW )LJXUH ,QQDWXUH <br />colonies are usually found living in cavities such as <br />hollow trees, and they will readily accept our wooden <br />hives as a home. <br />)LJXUH:RUNHUVDWWHQGLQJDTXHHQWKDWLVPDUNHGZLWKD\HOORZ <br />SDLQWGRWRQKHUWKRUD[&DQ\RXVSRWWKHGURQHV" <br />)LJXUH(JJVDQGODUYDHGHYHORSLQJLQWKHEHHVZD[FRPE7KH <br />ODUYDHDUHÀRDWLQJRQEURRGIRRGWKHZKLWHFOHDUOLTXLGVXEVWDQFH <br />ZKLFKLVIHGWRWKHGHYHORSLQJODUYDHE\QXUVHEHHV SKRWRE\ <br />-XG\*ULHVHGLHFN  <br />THE COLONY <br />BASIC HONEY BEE BIOLOGY AS IT PERTAINS <br />TO BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES