Citation:

"Adult Bee Anatomy (Basic Bee Biology for Beekeepers) - EXtension." Adult Bee Anatomy
(Basic Bee Biology for Beekeepers) - EXtension. Extension, 03 Apr. 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Summary:
Describes the worker bee anatomy
Explains how bees are covered in body hairs that extend from the exoskeleton
and their purpose
Shows the three different body regions (head, thorax, abdomen) and their
individual purposes
Explains the honey stomach and how its different from the rest of the stomach
Explains the circulatory system and kidneys/liver
Explain the reasons for why bees do not have kidneys or a liver
Evaluation:
The honey bee is a complex creature that is very different from most other animals and
insects. It lacks certain body parts that almost all other animals need to survive while at the
same time, it includes body parts that no other creatures have. The adult honey bee has a
separate stomach for storing and transporting fresh nectar and water to the nest, this is called
the honey stomach. The honey stomach, also known as the crop, is located in the abdomen and
can expand to take up most of the abdomen. The honey stomach is able to expand to hold up to
100mg, which is a rare occasion. Muscles that surround it contract when it is empty, allowing it
to compact. A few body parts that the bees lack are the kidneys and the liver. Most insects lack
these organs because they have thin filamentous that project from the malpighian tubules that
cleanse the blood in their bodies. The thin filamentous clean out the nitrogenous waste from the
blood and deposits them in the indigestible food waste so it can then leave the insect through
the anus. This new information gives me a greater understanding into the internal anatomy of
the adult honey bee and how their internal organs work differently than other animals and
insects. From here, I would like to base my project a little more around the internal anatomy of
the honey bee if possible. For my project, I would like to focus in on the organs of the honey bee
once I start my dissection and identify the differences in the internal anatomy of the honey from
other animals.
Insects also lack kidneys and a liver; thin filamentous projects from the junction of mid and hind
gut, termed malpighian tubules, cleanse the blood of nitrogenous cell wastes and deposit
them as non-toxic uric acid crystals into the indigestible food wastes for elimination from the
anus. There is no liquid waste in bees as their small body size makes water conservation a
necessity. (paragraph 9 http://www.extension.org/pages/21748/adult-bee-anatomy-basic-beebiology-for-beekeepers#.VT0vH61Viko)
Insects lack arteries and veins and their liquid plasm and blood cells circulate openly within the
body cavity (open circulatory system). A tube with muscles (heart) in the abdomen extends
forward to the head as the only circulatory structure in an insect. Blood carries food, hormones
and cells to fight diseases but does not contain red blood cells holding oxygen. (Paragraph 8

http://www.extension.org/pages/21748/adult-bee-anatomy-basic-bee-biology-forbeekeepers#.VT0vH61Viko )

Honey bees have reversible movement of foods from mouthparts to a honey stomach.
The honey stomach is a crop or storage area to hold freshly collected nectar (or water)
for transport and then deposit inside the nest following regurgitation. (Paragraph 7
http://www.extension.org/pages/21748/adult-bee-anatomy-basic-bee-biology-forbeekeepers#.VT0vH61Viko )