Naslov
New experimental observations on survivability and vitality of the queens kept for longer periods in transport cages

Autori
Šekulja, Damir ; Pechhacker, Hermann

Izvornik
Apidologie (Celle) (0044-8435) 40 (2009), 6; 651-670

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
survivability, honeybee queens, transport cages

Sažetak
Queens are usually taken out of the mating hives and kept in transport cages till they are used by beekeeper. The aim of this work was to find out if the period of caged life of queens is affecting their acceptance and/or superseding rate in their host colonies. In a pilot test in Lunz am See (Austria) 26 queens and in Rijeka (Croatia) 30 queens were kept in transport cages from middle of August over the winter, with replacing of bees and food usually after 10 – 14 days, depending on conditions in the cages. From March on these queens were successfully used in queen less colonies. All colonies used in experiments in 2007 and 2008, were more or less uniformed at the moment of queen introduction: 10 frames covered by bees, 4 – 5 combs of brood and 4 – 5 frames of honey. In 2007, total number of 177 queens was split in 6 groups (1, 7, 15, 21, 30 and 35 days of life in transport cages). There was no significant difference in acceptance rate of the queens, or in superseding rate in the spring, regardless of the duration of the cage life of queens prior the introduction to the colony. Colonies were developing, throughout the season, with similar brood development and similar honey collection, regardless of the group of queens which was used. In 2008, total number of 178 queens was split in two: 1 day freshly collected queens and queens left in cages over 30 days before their introduction to the colonies. Again, there was no significant difference in acceptance rate of the queens regardless of the duration of the cage life of queens prior the introduction to the colony. The superseding rate and colony development in spring 2009 was similar like in 2007. In all experiments, there was no any difference in the activity of the queens regardless of the group which was used.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Interdisciplinarne biotehničke znanosti

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