Computer simulation models can provide exceptional tools for research and teaching. Honey bee colonies furnish excellent examples of the basic principles of biology, entomology, and population ecology. We fused these two powerful educational tools and created an interactive program called PC BEEPOP for IBM-compatible personal computers.

PC BEEPOP is versatile and user-friendly. We designed it for use on any IBM-compatible computer with a hard disk, 640k of available memory, and a graphics adapter card. Pull-down menus facilitate the entry of initial honey bee colony size and age structure, foraging profiles, and factors that influence rates of birth, longevity, and morality. Default values are provided for all input parameters. Single-line HELP notes indicate appropriate ranges for all inputs, and full-screen HELP messages explain the relevance of each menu selection to bee biology and toxicology.

PC BEEPOP provides daily estimates of colony size and age composition as well as the amounts of pollen and nectar gathered, consumed, and stored by the colony. PC BEEPOP combines a simulation model, expert system, chemical toxicity database, and a tracheal mite module. Honey bee colonies are complex and dynamic systems made up of thousands of members. Nonetheless, a single individual, the queen, establishes the ultimate composition and growth potential of the colony.

Reprinted from American Entomologist, 39:231-237. (1993)