Hygienic behavior of bees as an element of sterility in the production of environmentally friendly products

Abstract

Beekeeping in Russia has been widespread for a long time and almost everywhere, a traditional and significant branch of the country’s agriculture. In the Russian Federation, as in most countries, beekeeping is mainly practiced by amateurs. In 2019, according to government statistics, there were about 4.0 million bee colonies in the country, with more than 90% of them in the private sector. One of the factors of high productivity of bee colonies is the hygienic activity of individuals. The behavior of the bees in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the hive is astonishing. Not only the honeycomb, but even the walls and floor of the hive are always kept neat, polished with propolis. Garbage falling to the bottom of the hive is immediately thrown out through the entrance. Moreover, large litter, for example, the corpse of a bee, is pulled out by the orderlies onto the boarding board, and, grabbing it with their legs, take off to carry it away from the hive. Worker bees sweep small debris out of the hive with their fan wings, like brooms, and even brush dust particles to the tap hole. Sterility in a honey bee nest can be compared to an operating room in a modern clinical hospital.