Question

Which substance is present in the poison of honey- bee?
A. Pepsin
B. Calcium phosphate
C. Melittin
D. Lime

Answer 1

Hint: Honeybee is a flying insect, which produces poison as an act of self-defence for intruders. The poison contains anticoagulant factors which increase the blood clotting time in humans.

Step by step answer:The honey bee is a eusocial flying insect within the phylum Arthropoda. Scientific classification is as follows:
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Insecta
Order- Hymenoptera
Family- Apidae
Genus- Apis
Species- Mellifera
Honeybees or other insects produce venom to protect themselves from predators or intruders.
Honey bee poison is a liquid, colourless and bitter substance. It contains a mixture of enzymes and small polypeptides such as phospholipase, melittin, apamin, hyaluronidase, and histamine, which causes local inflammation and thereby acts as anticoagulant. Melittin is the major constituent of bee poison. Melittin is a small polypeptide consisting of 26 amino acids. The poison affects the cell membrane of epithelial cells, creating pores in it and causes pain and destruction of cells. As pepsin, calcium phosphate and lime are not the constituents of bee poison.
Hence, the correct option is C. Melittin

Note: Beekeeping or apiculture is the maintenance of hives of honeybees for the production of honey. Bees are the pollinators of many of the crop species such as sunflower, Brassica, apple, and pear. Keeping beehives in the crop fields during the flowering period increases pollination efficiency and improves the yield beneficial both from crop yield and honey yield. Honey bees show polymorphism and a good division of labor.