Circulatory, and Defense Mechanisms

1 . The honey bee has a 4 chambered heart but has an “open circulatory system” Describe how this works. Does the honey bee have arteries and veins?

An “open circulatory system” bathes the brain and body cavity with hemolymph which bathes the brain in nutrients and sloshes around in the body cavity There are no arteries or veins (but there is an aorta that carries the hemolymph to the brain)

2 . What is the difference between the stinger in the worker versus the queen?

The worker’s stinger has barbs and thus stays in the wound (disemboweling and killing the bee) The queen bee’s stinger has no barbs and thus does not stay in the wound (and does not kill the queen if she stings)

3 . Can you think of a biological purpose to have the worker’s stinger remain in the wound?

So that the alarm chemical stays in the wound and alerts other bees to the site of the threat

4 . How does the respiratory system in the honey bee work?

Do they have lungs” Honey bees have 3 thoracic and 7 abdominal air openings called spiracles Air moves in and out of the spiracles with wing motion and abdominal motion and through a system of tracheoles that carry oxygen to each cell in the honey bee’s body There are no lungs.