SYLLABUS ENT 203, Section 601 (MP4) An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping FALL 2012

1.

Course Information: Number, Title & Credits:

ENT 203, Section 601, An Introduction to the Honey Bee & Beekeeping (3 credits)

Meeting Time & Place:

This course is based on a series of DVD’s (DVR-R format) that were produced to teach this course. The DVD’s have been converted to internet delivery and will be provided to you online as MP4 files. You may view the lectures on your own schedule as long as you view the covered material before each of the scheduled examinations. See section on “Special Notes” below for information on exam locations. Exam windows are listed in the “Lecture Schedule” of this syllabus. Each online lecture was produced by a taping a course lecture presented to NC State students. Please note that some of the MP4 files do include two lectures and are labeled as such. You can view the lectures in a MP4 format at http://courses.ncsu.edu/ent203/common/podcasts/. You can view the lectures online, download them to a portable media device (iPod etc.), or save them to your computer. Please contact the Distance Education Office if you are unable to access the MP4 files and need hard copy DVD/CD materials.

Special Notes:

Arrangements will be made for students to come to the NC State Campus to take required exams (or to take proctored exams) at an off-campus site. The location for the oncampus examinations and presentations will be the third floor of the Park Shops Building. An optional hands-on honey bee swarm demonstration will be conducted at Weaver Labs on Fawcette Drive.

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2.

Course Instructor: Name: Dr. John T. Ambrose Office: 311 Park Shops Phone: Office -- 515-4373 Home – 219-8208 E-Mail: [email protected] FAX: 515-4416 Office Hours: By appointment (contact Pat Cellini at 515-4373 for appointment)

3.

Course Description: Introduction to honey bee biology and a fundamental understanding of beekeeping management including crop pollination by bees. Examination of the relationships between honey bees and humans from prehistoric through modern times and the behavior and social system of one of the animal world’s most complex and highly organized nonhuman societies.

Course Objectives: To develop an appreciation of the honey bee’s social system, biology, and importance to agriculture. To develop the basic skills and knowledge necessary for keeping one or more hives of bees and for the development of a practical beekeeping management system based on an understanding of the bee’s biology and behavior. To understand the social and communications systems of a highly evolved non-human society; and to develop an appreciation for the interactions of humans and bees from prehistoric through modern time. To develop an understanding and appreciation of the Scientific Method

Student Learning Outcomes: A. Students should be able to describe various aspects of honey bee biology and behavior. B. Students should be able to compare and contrast the sensory systems of the honey bee to the sensory systems of humans. C. Students should be able to use their understanding of the sensory systems of the honey bee to predict behavioral responses to various stimuli and situations and to compare and contrast those responses to those that would be expected from a human sensory system. D. Students should be able to discuss the importance of honey bees and the honey bee’s society and the interpretation that has been placed on the insect and its society by various writers in comparing bee and human societies. E. Students should be able to evaluate the importance and the economic value of honey bees, with emphasis on bee pollination of plants and the production of various bee products, on the U.S. economy. F. Students should be able to appraise the possibility and the outcomes of potential problems involving honey bees such as the probability that Africanized honey bees will arrive in North Carolina and the consequences of such an occurrence. G. Students should be able to apply the scientific method to the evaluation of advertisements using bee related products as models for such evaluations. 6.

Course Requirements and Grading: a. The course grade will be based on exams and activities with the following weight: First Exam Second Exam Paper (Complete Loss of Honey Bees) Final Exam

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30% 30% 10% 30%

Note: Extra credit assignments will be announced periodically Grade Schedule:

A+ = A = A- = B+ = B = B- =

98-100%* 93-97% 90-92% 88-89% 83-87% 80-82%

C+ = 78-79% C = 73-77% C- = 70-72% D+ = 68-69% D = 63-67% D- = 60-62% F = less than 60% *Based on total points for semester – periodically opportunities for extra credit will be announced Special Note: In the taped lectures you will see that I periodically give the students in that section to extra credit by for the submission of an answer to a question. You also have the opportunity to earn that extra credit by sending me an e-mail with the requested information. You can earn extra credit but you will not lose any points for incorrect information.

b.

Attendance Policy Students are expected to view the appropriate lectures prior to the relevant examinations. If a student misses a preliminary examination or a final examination and has an approved (by the instructor) excused absence, then the student will be allowed to take a make-up examination. Otherwise, missed examinations will receive a 0 grade. For additional information see: http://ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3php

c.

Academic Integrity Students in this course are expected to comply with NCSU’s policy on academic integrity found in the Code of Student Conduct and the NCSU Honor Pledge. Each examination will require the student’s signature on the Honor Pledge statement certifying that he/she has neither given nor received unauthorized aid on the test. The student’s signature represents his/her commitment to the spirit of the Honor Pledge. For additional information see http://ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1php Note: All exams are monitored and the use of any unauthorized aids such as books or electronic devices are prohibited. All cell phones should be turned off during the exam taking period, and the use of a cell phone during that time will result in a failing grade for the exam.

d.

Students with Disabilities Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students Must register with Disability Services for Students at the Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State’s policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.1) at the following website http://ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.1.php

7.

Optional Textbook: The Hive and the Honey Bee. Joe M. Graham. 1992. Dadant and Sons, Inc., Hamilton, Illinois. Cost -- $36.00 This is an optional text for the class. It would be a beneficial supplement to the students who plan to continue their studies or work with bees but it is not required for the course. Appropriate handouts will be distributed to students to supplement the lecture material.

8.

Lecture Schedule: See attached schedule and note that an outdoor demonstration is scheduled so that “hands-on” experience with bees may be obtained in this lecture course. Students taking this course as a Distance Education Course will have the option to attend the demonstration on campus or to watch the televised presentation (Lecture #22, on MP4 file #20). Students are encouraged, but not required to attend the outdoor demonstration.

September 20, 2012. This is a tentative date. Outdoor Demonstration The Role of Pheromones (Chemicals) in Honey Bee Communication will be Examined by Working with a Swarm of Approximately 12,000 Honey Bees. In addition, we will examine how pheromones can be used by humans to “modify” honey bee behavior.

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Any student who thinks that he/she may have an allergy to honey bee stings must contact the instructor prior to attending any demonstration. These are very safe exercises and stinging is not expected, but the precaution of contacting the instructor about any possible allergic conditions is required.

ENT 203-601 (MP4 Series) -- Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping LECTURE SCHEDULE Note: Since this course is presented as a Distance Education Course in a MP4 file format, the following dates are only suggested dates, which parallel the lecture presentations for an on-campus version of the course. However, students are expected to have viewed the appropriate material (lectures) prior to the listed examinations. Date Topic Lecture #1, MP4 #1 Aug 16 Introduction and Safety Lecture on Bee Stings and Allergic Reactions

Lecture #2, MP4 #2 Aug 21 Relationship of the Honey Bee to Arthropods in General and To Other Social Insects in Particular. Lecture #3, MP4 #3 Aug 23 The Occupants of the Beehive: Castes and Division of Duties and Review of Relatives of The Bees such as Other Arthropods and Select Social Insects

Lecture #4, MP4 #4 Aug 28 Thinking Like a Bee - Understanding How a Bee Perceives the World Based on Its Senses of Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste, & Smell with a Comparison to Similar Senses in People. Lecture #5, MP4 #5 Aug 30 Thinking Like a Bee (cont.) With Emphasis on Vision, Touch. Taste, & Smell

Lecture #6, MP4 #6 Sept 04 A Look at Some Senses of the Bee that are Not “Seemingly” Shared by Humans Such as Electromagnetism, Gravity, and More.

Lecture #7, MP4 #7 Sept 06 The Use of Chemical Communication by Bees and How We Can Eavesdrop on the Bee’s Language Including an Introduction to the Dance Language of the Honey Bee.

Lecture #8, MP4 #8 Sept 11 Other Communication Strategies of Honey Bees Including the Dance Language and a Discussion of Whether There Really is a Dance Language. Lecture #9, MP4 #9 Sept 13 People’s Involvement With Bees Throughout the Ages With an Emphasis on the Bee Society Being Used as a Model(s) for Human Society. A Preview for the First Exam is Also Provided.

Sept 18 (9/17-9/19/12)

First Exam – Arrangements will be made for students to take the exam at NC State (third floor of the Park Shops Building) or at a proctored location (if you reside more than 50 miles from the NC State campus). You will have the opportunity to take the exam on any of the days between the dates of Sept 17-19, 2012 starting no earlier than 9:00 AM and no later than 4:00 PM. More information will be provided prior to the exam. The exam will cover lectures #1 through #9. You will be provided with a brief exam preview sheet.

Sept 20

OPTONAL ACTIVITY: Honey Bee Swarm Demonstration., The role of honey bee communication and the use of chemicals to “modify” bee behavior will be examined by working with a swarm of approximately 12,000 honey bees. Please talk to me prior to this demonstration if you think you might be allergic to insect stings. More details will be provided for this opportunity to actually handle honey bees closer to the date of the demonstration. Again note that this is an optional activity. Note: You may view the tape of this demonstration which is listed as Lecture #22 on DVD #20.

Lecture #10, MP4 #10 Sept 25 The Things That Bees Collect: A Survey of the Relationship Between the Flowering Plants and Bees With an Emphasis on the Collection of Nectar, Pollen, Propolis, and Water and the Use of Those Products by the Bees. Lecture #11, MP4 #11 Sept 27 Things Bees Collect (continued)

Lecture #12, MP4 #12 Oct 02 Major Products of the Beehive: The Importance of Honey and Beeswax to Humanity Throughout History and Today. A demonstration of Mead-Making (Honey Wine) will be conducted in class. Oct 04

Fall Break: No classes

Lecture #13, MP4 #13 Oct 09 A closer look at honey and beeswax and their uses.

Lecture #14, MP4 #14 Oct 11 A Comparison of Honey vs. Sugar and the Use of Sweeteners in Our Diets. The use of honey in Apitherapy will be discussed. A honey tasting will also be conducted in class

Lecture #15, MP4 #14 Oct 16 Minor Products of the Beehive: Emphasis on Such Products as Royal Jelly, Bee Venom, Propolis, and Pollen and Their Use by the Medical Community and in Apitherapy.

Lecture #16, MP4 #15 Oct 18 Development cycle of the Bee Colony. Also includes a demonstration of mead (honey wine) making.

Lecture #17, MP4 #16 Oct 23 Discussion of colony reproduction (swarming) by honey bees. Introduction of Africanized (Killer Bees) Honey Bees into the U.S. and their impact.

Oct 25 Second Exam for the Course. The window for taking the exam is Oct.24-26, 2012). (10/24-26, 2012) You may take the exam any day during the scheduled period. The exam will cover Lectures #10 - #17. The exam location is the third floor of Park Shops

Lecture # 18, MPR # 17 Oct 30 Diseases of the Honey Bee Lecture # 19, MP4 #18 Nov 01 Africanized Honey Bees and their potential impact on N.C. Lecture #20, MP4 #19 Nov 06 Pests (Tracheal and Varroa Mites, and Small Hive Beetles) and Predators of Honey Bees Lecture #21, MP4#20 Nov 08 Dealing with Pesticides Lecture #23, MP4 #21 Nov 13 Pests (Tracheal and Varroa Mites, Small Hive Beetles) and Predators of Honey Bees Lecture #24, MP4 #22 Nov 15 Pollination and the Sex Life of Plants: Yes, Both Birds and Bees Do Do It. Case study of apple pollination in N.C. Lecture #25, MP4 #23 Nov 20 Discussion of Colony Collapse Disorder-Are Cell Phones Killing Our Bees? Pollination continued – a case study of cucumber pollination. Nov 22

Thanksgiving Holiday – No classes

Lecture #26, DVD #24 Nov 27 Pollination continued with an overview of beekeeping in North Carolina.

Lecture #27, MP4 #24 Nov 29 Groups Presentations on the Development of “Hypothetical” Pollination Interactions. A World Without Honey Bees – The consequences to our diet (food supply), alcoholic beverages, medicine (Apitherapy), human cultural implications, and the development of civilization. Review for the Final Exam.

Paper on “A World Without Honey Bees” is due by 5:00PM and may be submitted electronically or in hard copy. This paper is worth 10% of your grade.

Dec 03-04

Reading Days

Dec 06

Special Treat: Join us between the hours of 9:00PM to 11:00PM at Fountain Dining Hall and enjoy Insect Treats at the Insect Café such as Chocolate Covered Crickets, Rice Krispy Treats with Waxworms, and Mealworm Hush Puppies. This activity is completely optional but very tasty. Note this date is subject to change.

Dec 10-12, 2012

Final Exam – You pick the day between Dec. 10-12 , 2012. You will have up to three hours to complete the final exam. Please arrive at the exam location no earlier than 9:00 AM and no later than 2:00PM – you pick the date. Exam location = third floor of Park Shops. Do not go to DELTA (the Distance Education Office) to take your exam. You do not need to make an appointment. Good Luck