honeybee Colony Quiz

Quiz 4 - The Honeybee Colony

This is a 12 question multiple choice quiz, select the correct answers!

How many bees are there in a healthy honeybee colony?
1. 30,000 during summer, and 1000 during winter.
2. Between 50,000 to 70,000 in summer, to 10,000 or less in winter.
3. 100,000 during the summer, 70,000 during winter.
4. It depends on what type of bees they are.
What structure does a healthy colony's nest take?
1. Similar to a wasps nest, made from paper mache and surrounded by pollen.
2. About the size and shape of a football, and surrounded by honey.
3. The size and shape of a rugby ball, surrounded with pollen, then honey to the outer edges.
4. It takes many forms depending on the bees preference.
Where does the queen lay the brood eggs?
1. In the wax cells the worker bees have made, cleaned and prepared specially for brood.
2. In any empty cell in the hive that is available.
3. Only in the top part of the hive where it is warmest.
4. In the lowest part of the brood box to leave room for honey stores above.
Where and when would you find drone cells in the hive?
1. In the very top part of the hive where it is warmest, and at any time.
2. Anywhere within the brood chamber where there is no worker brood, and only in late spring.
3. In the lower part of the brood chamber in early spring.
4. In the centre of the brood nest, where they will get more attention.
When will a colony decide to replace its queen?
1. When there are enough drones around to ensure mating.
2. When there is not enough pollen and nectar coming in.
3. When the queen shows signs of weakening or the hive is becoming congested.
4. When the hive becomes full of honey and no space for eggs.
What are the signs of queen replacement that you would see in the hive?
1. Increased drone activity at the hive entrance.
2. Bees congregating and fanning on the front of the hive.
3. Queen cups and / or queen cells on the brood frames.
4. Lack of sealed brood or eggs in the brood chamber.
What happens if more than one new queen hatches in the hive?
1. Only one will stay, the others will leave for another colony.
2. They will share the egg laying duties in the hive.
3. The colony will decide which one remains in the hive.
4. They will fight to the death, the stronger surviving.
How do honeybee colonies proliferate?
1. They produce swarm (queen) cells, then the old queen and all flying bees leave as a swarm.
2. The adults fly out as a swarm and leave the nurse bees to make a new queen.
3. The old queen and the drones leave together to start a new colony.
4. The nurse bees and the new queen leave to start a new colony.
Once a swarm leaves the hive how does it behave?
1. It flies staight off to its new home.
2. It clings to the outside of the hive until the queen has found a suitable new home.
3. It flies in circles until the scouts find a new home.
4. It sets down as a cluster near the old hive until the scouts find a new home.
Is a swarm desireable for the beekeeper?
1. No, it is a considerable loss of productive bees and honey from the apiary.
2. Yes, it means the hive now has a young virile new queen.
3. Yes, it means the colony is in good health and behaving normally.
4. Yes, it means the hive is no longer overcrowded.
What is the best way to avoid swarms?
1. Remove any queen cups or queen cells as soon as they appear.
2. Regular inspections during the swarm season (June) and prepare to artificially swarm.
3. Replace brood chamber combs filled with stores with fresh foundation.
4. Wait for the swarm to set down then collect it and put it in a new hive.
What are the concerns for the colony when harvesting spring or autumn honey?
1. The bees will have to work harder to replenish their stores.
2. Egg laying will slow down due to the lack of food in the hive.
3. The colony can quickly starve to death unless you artificially feed them up.
4. There will be less honey for you to harvest later on.

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