Effects of Queen Emergence Weight on Some Behavioral Characteristics and Colony Performance Parameters in Şanlıurfa Local Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Authors : Atilla ÖZTOKMAK, Gonca ÖZMEN ÖZBAKIR

Pages : 385-393

Doi:10.29050/harranziraat.323352

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Publication Date : 2017-12-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :It was aimed to determine the physiological and behavioral characteristics of the local honey bee genotype, which has been adapted to Şanlıurfa's climate and ecological conditions. Some physiological and behavioural characteristics such as the number of the frames covered with bees, development of brood areas, flight activity, honey production, overwintering success, swarming tendency, aggression and hygienic behaviour of the colonies established from queen bees produced from a breeding colony which represents Şanlıurfa local honey bees were determined. Queens were divided into two categories according to the emerging weights as light and heavy groups. The number of the frames covered with bees and the development of the brood areas were evaluated in 6 different periods. Some characteristics such as swarming tendency and aggression were determined in 3 different periods. The average emergence weight values were determined to be 170.36±2.688 mg for the light group and 211.67±5.523 mg for the heavy group (P<0.01). The average number of the frames covered with bees for the light and heavy groups were found as 3.56±0.103 and 3.07±0.098 respectively (P<0.05). The average brood areas were determined to be 1069.56±79.676 cm2 for the light group and 823.89±79.333 cm2 for the heavy group (P<0.05). The average flight activity number was 15.00±1.991 for the light group and 14.407±2.201 for the heavy group   (P>0.05). The average value in terms of aggression was 3.21±0.330 pcs/min for the light group and 2.48±0.365 pcs/min for the heavy group (P>0.05). The average number of the cleaned brood cells for the hygienic behaviour test was determined to be 95.6±5.58 for the light group and 78.8±17.97 for the heavy group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the light and heavy groups with respect to average honey production values (P>0.05). The overwintering abilities were determined to be 46% for the light group and 83% for the heavy group. The vitality rate of honey bees during the trial was 86.95%.
Keywords : Honey bee Apis mellifera L, Brood area, Flight activity, Aggression, Hygienic behaviour