Bees, Apiculture and Pollination
The course "Bees, beekeeping and pollination" examines the most important insect pollinators and gives an insight into their taxonomy, biology and ecological role. Practical work and excursions with focus on bumble bees, solitary bees and honey bees give both an understanding of the variations in biology and knowledge of specific pollinator species and how human activities may improve or impair survival of pollinating insects. Emphasis is put on the domesticated honey bee because of their importance both as honey producers and as pollinators of cultivated crops. Beekeeping is described in some detail with practical demonstrations of management, queen rearing and honey extraction.
Information from the course leader
Welcome to the Bee Course
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination. BI1320
The first day of the course will be on Monday May 2nd. The course will be a combination of online lectures and IRL activities. The Zoom platform will be used for streamed lectures and exercises will be on campus in Uppsala.
During the course we will use the canvas platform for all communication. There you will find zoom links for the lectures, instructions for the project work, the schedule, grading criteria, literature, pre-recorded lectures and films, slides from lectures, and you will use the platform to handle in your assignments (project work). If you intend to participate in the course I recommend that you self-register in Ladok. If you have problems with that we can fix that on the first day.
If you have questions? Just send an email to either the course leader Barbara (Barbara.locke@slu.se) or the course administrators Maria Viketoft (Maria.Viketoft@slu.se) or Ida Kollberg (Ida.Kollberg@slu.se)
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1320-40149 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1320
Academic year 2024/2025
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40106)
2025-05-02 - 2025-06-08
Academic year 2023/2024
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40068)
2024-04-26 - 2024-06-02
Academic year 2022/2023
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40065)
2023-04-28 - 2023-06-04
Academic year 2020/2021
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40135)
2021-05-03 - 2021-06-06
Academic year 2019/2020
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40049)
2020-05-01 - 2020-06-07
Academic year 2018/2019
Bees, Apiculture and Pollination (BI1320-40063)
2019-05-03 - 2019-06-09
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1320 Bees, Apiculture and Pollination, 7.5 Credits
Bin, biodling och pollineringSubjects
BiologyEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 7.5 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G1F)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge corresponding to Biologi, 30 credits.Objectives
The course aims to provide basic knowledge about solitary bees and bumble bees taxonomy, biology and ecological role and basic knowledge of honeybees and beekeeping.
After completing the course the student is expected to
master the use of keys for species determination of insects
be able to determine solitary bees to family and common bumble bees to species
understand the importance of insect mediated pollination
be able to describe the ecological importance of social insects and the organisation of honey bee colonies
be able to describe the genetic relationship between individuals in honey bee colonies and the sex determination system
be able to perform common measures related to beekeeping practices
Content
The course contains lectures, excursions, project work and exercises in practical beekeeping.
The course deals with the evolution, biology and the ecological significance of pollinating Hymenopterans. Regarding solitary bees, the focus is on species determination and biology, regarding honey bees, the focus is on biology, economic significance and practical beekeeping. Discussions on pollination biology provide a link between solitary and social bees.
Topics that are covered during the course are:
Evolutionary history, biology and taxonomy of pollinating Hymenoptera
Evolution of sociality and the superorganism concept
Pollination biology
- The organisation of honey bee colonies including sex determination and reproduction
Threats to pollinating insects
Diseases and parasites of honey bees
The importance of beekeeping and beekeeping practices
Compulsary parts include excursions, exercises and project work.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Passed written exam, approved reports of exercises and projects and participation in compulsory parts.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Ecology
Further information
Grading criteria
Grading criteria
BI1011 Bees, Apiculture and Pollination 7 HEC
Bin, biodling och pollinering
Course Objectives
After completing the course the student is expected to:
- master the use of keys for species determination of insects
- be able to determine solitary bees to family and common bumble bees to species
- understand the importance of insect mediated pollination
- be able to describe the ecological importance of social insects and the organization of honey bee colonies
- be able to describe the genetic relationship between individuals in honey bee colonies and the sex determination system
- know the most important honey bee diseases and parasites
- be able to perform common measures related to beekeeping practices
Grades: 5 /4 /3 / U (5 = A; 4 = B; 3 = D; U = F – Fail
|
Grade |
Interval % |
Judgement |
Description |
|
5 (A) |
80 – 100 |
Very good |
The student can use insect keys and determine most solitary bees to family and all common bumble bees to species. The student fully understands most aspects of the importance of insect mediated pollination with well founded examples from ecology, horticulture and agriculture. The student can in detail describe how honey bee colonies are organized, the genetics of honey bees and how sex is determined. The student knows and can in detail describe the biology of major honey bee diseases. The student is well familiar with beekeeping practice, is able to describe a full year of apiculture and knows in detail the products produced in apiculture. |
|
4 (B) |
68 – 79 |
Good |
The student can use insect keys and determine some solitary bees to family and most common bumble bees to species. The student understands most aspects of the importance of insect mediated pollination with examples from ecology, horticulture and agriculture. The student can describe most aspects of colony organization, the genetics of honey bees and how sex is determined. The student knows and can describe the basic biology of the major honey bee diseases. The student is familiar with beekeeping practice, is able to describe most aspects of a full year of apiculture and knows in some detail the products produced in apiculture. |
|
3 (D) |
58 - 67 |
Pass |
The student can use insect keys and determine some solitary bees to family and some common bumble bees to species. The student understands some aspects of the importance of insect mediated pollination with examples from ecology, horticulture and agriculture. The student can describe the basic features of colony organization, some important aspects of honey bee genetics and understands the basis for sex determination. The student knows and can describe the basic biology of some honey bee diseases. The student knows the major beekeeping practice, is able to describe the most important features of apiculture and knows some of the products produced in apiculture. |