Course code LauZ6122
Credit points 7.50
Bee Biology and Breeding
Total Hours in Course200
Number of hours for lectures40
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes40
Date of course confirmation18.01.2011
Responsible UnitAgrobiotehnoloģijas institūts
Course developer
Marta Liepniece
Mg. agr.
Course abstract
Graduate students will develop in-depth understanding about anatomy and physiology of honey bee (Apis mellifera). The life of the individual bee and the colony. The influence of ecological factors on the life cycle of the bee and the colony. They will study the genetic basis of bees breeding, heredity and variability in bees. They will study historical, simple and modern selection research methods of bees and possibilities to use them in breeding of queens and colonies.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
After completing the course student will have:
• knowledge of bee biology and breeding, knowledge of the proper choice of the method to reach the research objective;
• skills to scientifically explain the variability and heredity of bee’s ontogenesis, to understand the ways and methods of bee breeding, which virtually ensures a higher productivity of bee colonies and promote the activity of flower pollination of crops. They know how to use methodologically motivated methods for bee research in various situations, and be able to use creative thinking to make new research methods which are based on modern technology base;
• competence to carry out scientific research through acquired methods of bee breeding, study and analyze scientific and other literature on bee biology and breeding.
Compulsory reading
1. Dade H.A. Anatomy and Dissection of the Honeybee. Oxford: Alden press, 2009. 196 p.
2. Seeley T. D. The wisdom of the hive: the social physiology of honey bee colonies. Cambridge, Massachusetts ; London, England : Harvard University Press, 1995. 295 p.
3. Rinderer Th. Bee Genetics and Breeding: Northern Bee Books: Oxford: Alden press, 2008. 444 p.
4. Ruttner F. Zuchttechnik und zuchtauslese bei der Biene. Muenchen: Ehrenwirth, 1996. 166 s.
Further reading
1. Šteiselis J. Biškopība iesācējiem. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2009. 147 lpp.
2. Crane E. The world history of beekeeping and honey hunting. London : Duckworth, 1999. 682 p.
3. Dade H. A. Anatomy and Dissection of the honeybee. Oxford: Alden press, 1994. 158 p.
Periodicals and other sources
1. Biškopis(ISSN 977140)
2. Dārzs un Drava (ISSN 0132-6457)
3. Journal of apicultural science (ISSN 0021-8596)