Beekeeping Glossary
Nectar
A sweet and often fragrant liquid secreted by the nectaries of plants for attracting animals. Nectar is the raw product of honey.
Nectar Flow
A time when nectar is plentiful and bees produce and store surplus honey.
Nectar Guide
Color marks on flowers believed to direct insects to nectar sources.
Nectaries
The glands of plants which secrete nectar, located within the flower or on other portions of the plant (extrafloral nectaries).
Nosema
A disease of the adult honey bee caused by the protozoan Nosema apis. The microbe destroys the gut of the bee and severe infections result in malnutrition and dysentery.
Nucleus
A hive of bees which consists of fewer frames than a typical hive and may be smaller in size. A nucleus usually consists of two to five frames of comb and used primarily for starting new colonies or rearing or storing queens; also called and commonly referred to a nuc.
Nurse Bees
Young bees, three to ten days old, which feed and take care of developing brood.