Abdomen - the posterior or third region of the body of a bee enclosing the honey stomach, true stomach, intestine, sting, and reproductive organs.

Afterswarm - a small swarm, usually headed by a virgin queen, which may leave the hive after the first or prime swarm has departed.

American foulbrood - a brood disease of honey bees caused by the spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus larvae.

Anaphylactic shock - constriction of the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes of a human, caused by hypersensitivity to venom and resulting in sudden death unless immediate medical attention is received.

Apiary - colonies, hives, and other equipment assembled in one location for beekeeping operations; bee yard.

Apiculture - the science and art of raising honey bees.

Apis mellifera - scientific name of the honey bee found in the United States.

Bacillus larvae - the bacterium that causes American foulbrood

Bee blower - an engine with attached blower used to dislodge bees from combs in a honey super by creating a high-velocity, high-volume wind.

Bee bread - a mixture of collected pollen and nectar or honey, deposited in the cells of a comb to be used as food by the bees.

Bee brush - a brush or whisk broom used to remove bees from combs.

Bee escape - a device used to remove bees from honey supers and buildings by permitting bees to pass one way but preventing their return.

Beehive - a box or receptacle with movable frames, used for housing a colony of bees.

Bee metamorphosis - the three stages through which a bee passes before reaching maturity: egg, larva, and pupa.

Bee space - 1/4 to 3/8-inch space between combs and hive parts in which bees build no comb or deposit only a small amount of propolis.

Beeswax - a complex mixture of organic compounds secreted by special glands on the last four visible segments on the ventral side of the worker bee's abdomen and used for building comb. Its melting point is from 143.6 to 147.2 degrees F.

Bee tree - a tree with one of more hollows occupied by a colony of bees.

Bee veil - a cloth or wire netting for protecting the beekeeper's head and neck from stings.

Bee venom - the poison secreted by special glands attached to the stinger of the bee.

Boardman feeder - a device for feeding bees in warm weather, consisting of an inverted jar with an attachment allowing access to the hive entrance.