JOURNEYMAN BEEKEEPING EXAM,
NCSBA BEEKEEPING STUDY GUIDE,
JOURNEYMAN NCSBA 2024
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
T/F The queen is always surrounded by a group of attendants referred to as the "Queen Retinue."
ANSW✅✅True
What is Propolis made from? ANSW✅✅Plant Resins
T/F Worker bees start foraging when they are around 21 days old. ANSW✅✅True
At what age will a virgin queen begin to mate? ANSW✅✅7 days
T/F Nectar is apprx. 80% water and 20% sugar. ANSW✅✅True
What is the name of the "pollen baskets" on the bees legs? ANSW✅✅Corbicula
What causes American Foul Brood? ANSW✅✅Bacterial Infection
What causes Sac Brood? ANSW✅✅Viral Infection
What causes Nosema ANSW✅✅Protozoan Infection
Pollination is when pollen is transferred from the _______ to the _______of the plant.
ANSW✅✅Anther to the Stigma.
,What is Johnston's organ? ANSW✅✅It is found in the pedicel (antenna) and detects motion of the
flagellar segments, electric fields, vibration, also "speedometer."
Who is Charles Butler and what did he do? ANSW✅✅Father of English Beekeeping. First
determined Queens were female and Drones were male.
What is the difference between pheromones and hormones? ANSW✅✅Pheromones are exuded
outside the bee, and cause influence on others/the hive. Hormones are exuded inside the bee and
have an effect on the bee itself.
What did Karl von Frisch do? ANSW✅✅Discovered bee dances.
BEP ANSW✅✅Brood Ester Pheromone. Pheromone emitted by the brood that stimulates the hive
for more food, water, pollen, etc
Round Dance ANSW✅✅Food is close by (<50m)
Sickle Dance ANSW✅✅Food is 50-150m
Waggle Dance ANSW✅✅Food is > 150m away.
What are the Spiracles? ANSW✅✅The "breathing" openings of the bee.
Where are the Spiracles located? ANSW✅✅Thorax and abdomen.
What are the Malphigean Tubes and what do they do? ANSW✅✅They carry the Hemolymph of
the bee and clean it (kidneys) as well.
When did Varroa Mites enter the U.S.? ANSW✅✅1987
When did Trachea Mites enter the U.S.? ANSW✅✅1984
, How does the larva expel excrement? ANSW✅✅It doesn't. It is stored in it's body and later
expelled when the larva transitions into a pupa.
After emerging, how many days will the Queen spend in the hive before taking her mating flight(s)?
ANSW✅✅On average, 5-8.
What time of day does a Queen generally take her mating flight(s)? ANSW✅✅Lunch-Afternoon
(1100-1600)
What year was the Bee Garden established at the NC Zoo? ANSW✅✅2009
What year did honey bees arrive in NC? ANSW✅✅1670
What is Hymenoptera? ANSW✅✅A family of insects that includes bees, wasps, ants, and yellow
jackets.
How many chromosomes do Queens and Workers have? ANSW✅✅16 pairs (32 total)
How many chromosomes do Haploid Drones have? ANSW✅✅16
How man chromosomes do Diploid Drones have? ANSW✅✅16 pairs (32 total) [they are killed in
the larval stage by the workers]
Define the term "Superorganism." ANSW✅✅A social unit of eusocial
animals, where division of labor is highly specialized and where individuals are not able to survive by
themselves for extended periods.
What are Super Sisters? ANSW✅✅Two bees that share the same father and share 75% identical
DNA.
How do AHB usurp EHB hives? ANSW✅✅They can invade EHB colonies and replace resident
queens with the swarm's African queen. Nest usurpation causes loss of European matrilines as well
as patrilines.
NCSBA BEEKEEPING STUDY GUIDE,
JOURNEYMAN NCSBA 2024
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
T/F The queen is always surrounded by a group of attendants referred to as the "Queen Retinue."
ANSW✅✅True
What is Propolis made from? ANSW✅✅Plant Resins
T/F Worker bees start foraging when they are around 21 days old. ANSW✅✅True
At what age will a virgin queen begin to mate? ANSW✅✅7 days
T/F Nectar is apprx. 80% water and 20% sugar. ANSW✅✅True
What is the name of the "pollen baskets" on the bees legs? ANSW✅✅Corbicula
What causes American Foul Brood? ANSW✅✅Bacterial Infection
What causes Sac Brood? ANSW✅✅Viral Infection
What causes Nosema ANSW✅✅Protozoan Infection
Pollination is when pollen is transferred from the _______ to the _______of the plant.
ANSW✅✅Anther to the Stigma.
,What is Johnston's organ? ANSW✅✅It is found in the pedicel (antenna) and detects motion of the
flagellar segments, electric fields, vibration, also "speedometer."
Who is Charles Butler and what did he do? ANSW✅✅Father of English Beekeeping. First
determined Queens were female and Drones were male.
What is the difference between pheromones and hormones? ANSW✅✅Pheromones are exuded
outside the bee, and cause influence on others/the hive. Hormones are exuded inside the bee and
have an effect on the bee itself.
What did Karl von Frisch do? ANSW✅✅Discovered bee dances.
BEP ANSW✅✅Brood Ester Pheromone. Pheromone emitted by the brood that stimulates the hive
for more food, water, pollen, etc
Round Dance ANSW✅✅Food is close by (<50m)
Sickle Dance ANSW✅✅Food is 50-150m
Waggle Dance ANSW✅✅Food is > 150m away.
What are the Spiracles? ANSW✅✅The "breathing" openings of the bee.
Where are the Spiracles located? ANSW✅✅Thorax and abdomen.
What are the Malphigean Tubes and what do they do? ANSW✅✅They carry the Hemolymph of
the bee and clean it (kidneys) as well.
When did Varroa Mites enter the U.S.? ANSW✅✅1987
When did Trachea Mites enter the U.S.? ANSW✅✅1984
, How does the larva expel excrement? ANSW✅✅It doesn't. It is stored in it's body and later
expelled when the larva transitions into a pupa.
After emerging, how many days will the Queen spend in the hive before taking her mating flight(s)?
ANSW✅✅On average, 5-8.
What time of day does a Queen generally take her mating flight(s)? ANSW✅✅Lunch-Afternoon
(1100-1600)
What year was the Bee Garden established at the NC Zoo? ANSW✅✅2009
What year did honey bees arrive in NC? ANSW✅✅1670
What is Hymenoptera? ANSW✅✅A family of insects that includes bees, wasps, ants, and yellow
jackets.
How many chromosomes do Queens and Workers have? ANSW✅✅16 pairs (32 total)
How many chromosomes do Haploid Drones have? ANSW✅✅16
How man chromosomes do Diploid Drones have? ANSW✅✅16 pairs (32 total) [they are killed in
the larval stage by the workers]
Define the term "Superorganism." ANSW✅✅A social unit of eusocial
animals, where division of labor is highly specialized and where individuals are not able to survive by
themselves for extended periods.
What are Super Sisters? ANSW✅✅Two bees that share the same father and share 75% identical
DNA.
How do AHB usurp EHB hives? ANSW✅✅They can invade EHB colonies and replace resident
queens with the swarm's African queen. Nest usurpation causes loss of European matrilines as well
as patrilines.
