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ENTOM 2030 CORNELL
UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
**1. What is the scientific name of the Western honey bee, and
to which family does it belong?**
A) Apis cerana, Melittidae
B) Apis mellifera, Apidae
C) Apis dorsata, Halictidae
D) Apis florea, Andrenidae
**B - correct-answer -** Apis mellifera is the scientific name of
the Western (European) honey bee, and it belongs to the family
Apidae. Option A is incorrect because Apis cerana is the Asian
honey bee and belongs to Apidae, not Melittidae. Option C is
incorrect because Apis dorsata is the giant honey bee. Option
D is incorrect because Apis florea is the dwarf honey bee.
---
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**2. Approximately how many bee species exist worldwide?**
A) 5,000
B) 10,000
C) 20,000
D) 50,000
**C - correct-answer -** There are over 20,000 species of bees
in the world, with approximately 4,000 in the US/Canada and
nearly 450 in New York State. Options A, B, and D do not
reflect accurate estimates of global bee diversity.
---
**3. A non-functional proventricular valve (proventriculus) would
most directly affect which function in a honey bee?**
A) Oxygen transport to tissues
B) Separation of nectar storage from the digestive tract
C) Production of royal jelly
D) Pheromone detection
**B - correct-answer -** The proventricular valve
(proventriculus) regulates the passage of food from the crop
(honey stomach) into the midgut. A non-functional valve would
allow contents to mix improperly between these regions. Option
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A is incorrect because oxygen transport is handled by the
tracheal system. Option C is incorrect because royal jelly is
produced by hypopharyngeal glands. Option D is incorrect
because pheromone detection occurs at the antennae.
---
**4. What is the primary function of the Malpighian tubules in
honey bees?**
A) Production of digestive enzymes
B) Filtration of hemolymph to remove nitrogenous waste
C) Storage of nectar
D) Production of wax for comb building
**B - correct-answer -** Malpighian tubules filter hemolymph to
remove toxic nitrogenous waste, functioning similarly to kidneys
in mammals. The filtrate then goes to the rectum for water
reabsorption and eventual excretion. Option A is incorrect
because digestive enzymes are produced in the midgut. Option
C is incorrect because nectar is stored in the crop. Option D is
incorrect because wax is produced by wax glands on the
abdomen.
---
**5. How do honey bees acquire oxygen from the air?**
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A) Through hemoglobin in their hemolymph
B) Through spiracles and a network of tracheae
C) Through their compound eyes
D) Through their exoskeleton directly
**B - correct-answer -** Air enters through spiracles (small
holes on the exoskeleton) and is distributed throughout the
body by a branching network of tracheae and tracheoles,
eventually reaching individual cells. Option A is incorrect
because insect hemolymph does not contain hemoglobin and
does not transport oxygen. Option C is incorrect because
compound eyes are visual organs. Option D is incorrect
because oxygen must enter through spiracles.
---
**6. Why is honey bee hemolymph (insect "blood") clear rather
than red?**
A) It lacks oxygen entirely
B) It does not transport oxygen, so it contains no hemoglobin
C) It contains white blood cells only
D) It is filtered by the Malpighian tubules
ENTOM 2030 CORNELL
UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
**1. What is the scientific name of the Western honey bee, and
to which family does it belong?**
A) Apis cerana, Melittidae
B) Apis mellifera, Apidae
C) Apis dorsata, Halictidae
D) Apis florea, Andrenidae
**B - correct-answer -** Apis mellifera is the scientific name of
the Western (European) honey bee, and it belongs to the family
Apidae. Option A is incorrect because Apis cerana is the Asian
honey bee and belongs to Apidae, not Melittidae. Option C is
incorrect because Apis dorsata is the giant honey bee. Option
D is incorrect because Apis florea is the dwarf honey bee.
---
,2 | Page
**2. Approximately how many bee species exist worldwide?**
A) 5,000
B) 10,000
C) 20,000
D) 50,000
**C - correct-answer -** There are over 20,000 species of bees
in the world, with approximately 4,000 in the US/Canada and
nearly 450 in New York State. Options A, B, and D do not
reflect accurate estimates of global bee diversity.
---
**3. A non-functional proventricular valve (proventriculus) would
most directly affect which function in a honey bee?**
A) Oxygen transport to tissues
B) Separation of nectar storage from the digestive tract
C) Production of royal jelly
D) Pheromone detection
**B - correct-answer -** The proventricular valve
(proventriculus) regulates the passage of food from the crop
(honey stomach) into the midgut. A non-functional valve would
allow contents to mix improperly between these regions. Option
,3 | Page
A is incorrect because oxygen transport is handled by the
tracheal system. Option C is incorrect because royal jelly is
produced by hypopharyngeal glands. Option D is incorrect
because pheromone detection occurs at the antennae.
---
**4. What is the primary function of the Malpighian tubules in
honey bees?**
A) Production of digestive enzymes
B) Filtration of hemolymph to remove nitrogenous waste
C) Storage of nectar
D) Production of wax for comb building
**B - correct-answer -** Malpighian tubules filter hemolymph to
remove toxic nitrogenous waste, functioning similarly to kidneys
in mammals. The filtrate then goes to the rectum for water
reabsorption and eventual excretion. Option A is incorrect
because digestive enzymes are produced in the midgut. Option
C is incorrect because nectar is stored in the crop. Option D is
incorrect because wax is produced by wax glands on the
abdomen.
---
**5. How do honey bees acquire oxygen from the air?**
, 4 | Page
A) Through hemoglobin in their hemolymph
B) Through spiracles and a network of tracheae
C) Through their compound eyes
D) Through their exoskeleton directly
**B - correct-answer -** Air enters through spiracles (small
holes on the exoskeleton) and is distributed throughout the
body by a branching network of tracheae and tracheoles,
eventually reaching individual cells. Option A is incorrect
because insect hemolymph does not contain hemoglobin and
does not transport oxygen. Option C is incorrect because
compound eyes are visual organs. Option D is incorrect
because oxygen must enter through spiracles.
---
**6. Why is honey bee hemolymph (insect "blood") clear rather
than red?**
A) It lacks oxygen entirely
B) It does not transport oxygen, so it contains no hemoglobin
C) It contains white blood cells only
D) It is filtered by the Malpighian tubules
