JOURNEYMAN BEEKEEPING EXAM (PDF) | 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. The Journeyman-level beekeeper is expected to function as a competent hobby beekeeper
with emerging skills for operating at what level of beekeeping?
A) Hobbyist only
B) Sideline level
C) Commercial level
D) Research level
Correct Answer: B) Sideline level
Rationale: The Journeyman level represents a transition from hobbyist to sideline beekeeper,
with emerging skills and knowledge for functioning at the sideline level or serving as an industry
leader and ambassador .
2. Honey bees prefer a box with a cavity size of approximately:
A) 5.5 gallons
B) 10.5 gallons
C) 15.5 gallons
D) 20.5 gallons
Correct Answer: B) 10.5 gallons
Rationale: Research has shown that honey bees prefer a nesting cavity size of approximately
10.5 gallons, which corresponds to the volume of a standard deep hive body .
3. Which of the following statements about bee spiracles is true?
A) All spiracles have valves to protect from water or foreign objects
B) Spiracles are found only on the abdomen
C) Not all spiracles have valves
D) Spiracles are used for feeding
Correct Answer: C) Not all spiracles have valves
Rationale: Not all of the bee's spiracles have valves to protect from water or foreign objects
entering. This is a common misconception about honey bee anatomy .
4. The corbiculae (pollen baskets) of drones are used for:
A) Collecting pollen
B) Helping them latch on to the queen during mating
C) They are not functional in drones
D) Carrying nectar
Correct Answer: C) They are not functional in drones
,Rationale: Drones do not have functional corbiculae. The statement that corbiculae help drones
latch onto the queen during mating is incorrect .
5. Apis mellifera ligustica bees are known for which characteristic?
A) Being the heaviest propolizers
B) Being the most docile
C) Being notorious for drifting
D) Producing the most honey
Correct Answer: C) Being notorious for drifting
Rationale: Italian bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are notorious for drifting between hives, which
can contribute to disease transmission .
6. Which of the following statements about virgin queens and drones is correct?
A) Virgin queens usually fly shorter distances than drones
B) Virgin queens usually fly farther than drones from the same bee yard
C) Drones and virgin queens fly the same distance
D) Neither flies from the home apiary
Correct Answer: B) Virgin queens usually fly farther than drones from the same bee yard
Rationale: Virgin queens typically fly farther than drones from the same bee yard during mating
flights, which helps reduce inbreeding .
7. When a worker bee stings, the sting pump apparatus continues pumping venom for
approximately:
A) 10 to 20 seconds
B) 30 to 60 seconds
C) 60 to 90 seconds
D) 2 minutes
Correct Answer: B) 30 to 60 seconds
Rationale: The sting apparatus of a worker bee continues to pump venom for approximately 30
to 60 seconds after the sting is delivered, which is why prompt removal of the stinger is
important .
8. "The Hive and the Honeybee" was originally written by:
A) A.I. Root
B) Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth
C) Dr. Roger Morse
D) Professor Karl Von Frisch
Correct Answer: B) Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth
Rationale: "The Hive and the Honeybee" was originally written by L.L. Langstroth, who is also
credited with discovering bee space .
, 9. Quacking and tooting by queen bees are both known as:
A) Piping
B) Drumming
C) Trembling
D) Scouting
Correct Answer: A) Piping
Rationale: The sounds made by queen bees, including both quacking and tooting, are collectively
known as piping .
10. How many subspecies of Apis mellifera are there?
A) 18
B) 22
C) 24
D) 26
Correct Answer: D) 26
Rationale: There are 26 recognized subspecies of Apis mellifera worldwide, not 18 as is
sometimes incorrectly stated .
11. Supersedure is usually triggered when:
A) The queen is failing and laying eggs on the side of cells
B) The colony becomes overcrowded
C) A new queen is introduced
D) The hive is moved
Correct Answer: A) The queen is failing and laying eggs on the side of cells
Rationale: Supersedure is typically triggered when a queen is failing, often evidenced by eggs
being laid on the side of cells or other signs of declining queen performance .
12. Queen cells are usually constructed from:
A) Fresh beeswax
B) Old beeswax
C) Propolis
D) Plant resin
Correct Answer: B) Old beeswax
Rationale: Queen cells are typically constructed from old beeswax, which is reworked by the
bees for this purpose .
13. Africanized bees have stronger venom than European bees. This statement is:
A) True
B) False
C) True only in South America
D) True only for worker bees
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. The Journeyman-level beekeeper is expected to function as a competent hobby beekeeper
with emerging skills for operating at what level of beekeeping?
A) Hobbyist only
B) Sideline level
C) Commercial level
D) Research level
Correct Answer: B) Sideline level
Rationale: The Journeyman level represents a transition from hobbyist to sideline beekeeper,
with emerging skills and knowledge for functioning at the sideline level or serving as an industry
leader and ambassador .
2. Honey bees prefer a box with a cavity size of approximately:
A) 5.5 gallons
B) 10.5 gallons
C) 15.5 gallons
D) 20.5 gallons
Correct Answer: B) 10.5 gallons
Rationale: Research has shown that honey bees prefer a nesting cavity size of approximately
10.5 gallons, which corresponds to the volume of a standard deep hive body .
3. Which of the following statements about bee spiracles is true?
A) All spiracles have valves to protect from water or foreign objects
B) Spiracles are found only on the abdomen
C) Not all spiracles have valves
D) Spiracles are used for feeding
Correct Answer: C) Not all spiracles have valves
Rationale: Not all of the bee's spiracles have valves to protect from water or foreign objects
entering. This is a common misconception about honey bee anatomy .
4. The corbiculae (pollen baskets) of drones are used for:
A) Collecting pollen
B) Helping them latch on to the queen during mating
C) They are not functional in drones
D) Carrying nectar
Correct Answer: C) They are not functional in drones
,Rationale: Drones do not have functional corbiculae. The statement that corbiculae help drones
latch onto the queen during mating is incorrect .
5. Apis mellifera ligustica bees are known for which characteristic?
A) Being the heaviest propolizers
B) Being the most docile
C) Being notorious for drifting
D) Producing the most honey
Correct Answer: C) Being notorious for drifting
Rationale: Italian bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are notorious for drifting between hives, which
can contribute to disease transmission .
6. Which of the following statements about virgin queens and drones is correct?
A) Virgin queens usually fly shorter distances than drones
B) Virgin queens usually fly farther than drones from the same bee yard
C) Drones and virgin queens fly the same distance
D) Neither flies from the home apiary
Correct Answer: B) Virgin queens usually fly farther than drones from the same bee yard
Rationale: Virgin queens typically fly farther than drones from the same bee yard during mating
flights, which helps reduce inbreeding .
7. When a worker bee stings, the sting pump apparatus continues pumping venom for
approximately:
A) 10 to 20 seconds
B) 30 to 60 seconds
C) 60 to 90 seconds
D) 2 minutes
Correct Answer: B) 30 to 60 seconds
Rationale: The sting apparatus of a worker bee continues to pump venom for approximately 30
to 60 seconds after the sting is delivered, which is why prompt removal of the stinger is
important .
8. "The Hive and the Honeybee" was originally written by:
A) A.I. Root
B) Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth
C) Dr. Roger Morse
D) Professor Karl Von Frisch
Correct Answer: B) Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth
Rationale: "The Hive and the Honeybee" was originally written by L.L. Langstroth, who is also
credited with discovering bee space .
, 9. Quacking and tooting by queen bees are both known as:
A) Piping
B) Drumming
C) Trembling
D) Scouting
Correct Answer: A) Piping
Rationale: The sounds made by queen bees, including both quacking and tooting, are collectively
known as piping .
10. How many subspecies of Apis mellifera are there?
A) 18
B) 22
C) 24
D) 26
Correct Answer: D) 26
Rationale: There are 26 recognized subspecies of Apis mellifera worldwide, not 18 as is
sometimes incorrectly stated .
11. Supersedure is usually triggered when:
A) The queen is failing and laying eggs on the side of cells
B) The colony becomes overcrowded
C) A new queen is introduced
D) The hive is moved
Correct Answer: A) The queen is failing and laying eggs on the side of cells
Rationale: Supersedure is typically triggered when a queen is failing, often evidenced by eggs
being laid on the side of cells or other signs of declining queen performance .
12. Queen cells are usually constructed from:
A) Fresh beeswax
B) Old beeswax
C) Propolis
D) Plant resin
Correct Answer: B) Old beeswax
Rationale: Queen cells are typically constructed from old beeswax, which is reworked by the
bees for this purpose .
13. Africanized bees have stronger venom than European bees. This statement is:
A) True
B) False
C) True only in South America
D) True only for worker bees
