BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTION

Knowledge and understanding: The course aims to provide adequate knowledge of the bioethological productive and environmental aspects of the honey bee, as well as those related to bees and crop pollination. It aims to provide students with adequate knowledge of the honey bee in aspects concerning morphology, biology, disease and adversity, as well as its role as a bioindicator. The student will acquire knowledge of the main beekeeping techniques, the regulatory aspects governing beekeeping, as well as the role of bees in direct and indirect income production and as an element of environmental protection and indicator of the health status of the territory.

Applying knowledge and understanding: Students through the acquisition of knowledge about honey bee and bees will be able to develop interventions to manage issues related to beekeeping and environmental protection.

Making judgements: Participation in lectures, laboratory exercises, seminars and farm visits will enable students to learn about wild and managed bees and develop autonomous ability to evaluate issues related to beekeeping and pollinator management.

Communication skills: The acquisition of communication skills will be fostered by reading scientific articles, participating in seminars on topics of general and applied interest useful to complete the training, fostering thematic insights on topics of specific interest. These activities will enable students to acquire correct technical and scientific terminology in the field of apidology and to learn how to compare and communicate concisely and effectively. 

Learning skills: Students, through attendance of the course, will be able to develop skills and autonomy of analysis useful for carrying out professional activities in the field of beekeeping; they will acquire skills on the role and use of wild and managed bees in crop pollination and the role of bees in the environment.

The programme will be executed through: lectures and practice in the laboratory; seminars and educational experiences in the field will be eventually used. The lectures will allow to acquire the necessary knowledge; practical laboratory activities, seminars and field experiences will provide useful tools for acquiring skills.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).

In order to fully understand the course content, it is necessary to have knowledge of the main notions of biology and entomology.

Class attendance is not mandatory to take the exam, however, it is strongly recommended to attend lectures, workshops and seminars in order to acquire, along with the necessary notions, skills as well.

Outlines of systematic and biology of Hymenoptera Apoidea.

Morphology, anatomy, biology, ethology of Apis mellifera.

Social organization of honeybee.

Pests and diseases of Apis mellifera.

Honey bee as bioindicator of the environmental quality.

Hives, beekeeping tools and practices of technical beekeeping.

Production, characteristics and use of the products of the hive.

Regulatory aspects concerning the apiculture.

The pollination service.

Nectar and pollen producing plants for beekeeping.

Qualitative and quantitative effects of insect pollination on the main crops and fruit trees.

Wild bees and their role in crop pollination.

Testo 1: Contessi A., Le api. Biologia, allevamento, prodotti. Edagricole, Bologna, 2018.

Testo 2: Carpana E., Lodesani M., Patologia e avversità dell'alveare. Editore Springer Verlag, 2014

Testo 3: Frilli F., Barbattini R., Milani N., L’ape: forme e funzioni. Edagricole, Bologna, 2001.

Testo 4: Bortolotti L., Marcazzan G. L., I prodotti dell'alveare. Edagricole, 2017

In addition, the lecturer provides supplementary materials for studying the topics covered through the platform STUDIUM (http://studium.unict.it)

In-progress tests consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended test questions taken during the course and final examination consisting of an individual oral interview aimed at verify the knowledge acquired and critical skills in connecting knowledge. The elements of evaluation considered for the oral examination will concern: the relevance of the answers with respect to the questions formulated, the quality of the content, the ability to connect with other topics covered in the program, the ability to report examples, the technical language property and the expressive ability overall of the student.

Verification of learning may also be conducted electronically, should conditions should require it.

The marks attributed will follow the following scheme:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.

Use of references: Completely inappropriate.

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills.

Use of references: As appropriate.

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Correct analysis and synthesis, with logical and coherent argumentation skills.

Use of references: Use of standard references.

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Good, with arguments expressed consistently.

Use of references: Use of standard references.

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: More than good.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.

Use of references: In-depth.

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.

Use of references: Important insights.

Sample questions:

Bees: classification and morphological and biological characteristics.

The honey bee: systematics of the genus Apis.

The social structure of the honey bee: castes and roles.

Bee hives and beekeeping tools.

Describe a honey bee disease and/or pest, symptoms, and methods of treatment or control.

Characteristics and mode of production of one of the hive products (e.g., honey, wax, etc.).

Wild bees used in crop pollination.

Beekeeping regulations and laws.