Queen bee egg-laying dynamics: evaluation of Roger-Delon and Warre hives

Tsvetan Tsvetanov; Ralitsa Balkanska

bg | en

Help

English

Български

Queen bee egg-laying dynamics: evaluation of Roger-Delon and Warre hives

Tsvetan Tsvetanov

, Ralitsa Balkanska

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the egg-laying dynamics of queen bees in Roger-Delon and Warre hives located in an apiary at an altitude of less than 1000 m. The study was conducted during the active season of 2023, in an apiary located at an altitude of 860 m in south-western Bulgaria, Pernik district. The bee colonies were balanced before the beginning of the experiment. Two groups of 6 colonies were formed from each Roger-Delon and Warre system. Sealed worker brood was measured until the appearance of constant nectar flow (April – June), and after the appearance of constant nectar flow (September – November). There is currently a need to examine and quantify the egg-laying dynamics of queens in new hive systems. Queen egg-laying activity is affected by a variety of seasonal, nutritional and social factors. According to the results obtained, the average sealed worker brood in Warre hives and Roger-Delon hives are 10484±1031 cm2 and 9564±1057 cm2 (mean±SD) respectively, for the whole period until appearance of constant nectar flow.

Keywords: egg-laying dynamics; Roger-Delon hive; sealed worker brood; Warre hive

Citation: Tsvetanov, Ts. & Balkanska, R. (2024). Queen bee egg-laying dynamics: evaluation of Roger-Delon and Warre hives. Bulgarian Journal of Animal Husbandry, 61(6), 30-34.

References: (click to open/close)

Akyol, E., Yeninar, H., Korkmaz, A. & Çakmak, I. (2008). An observation study on the effects of queen age on some characteristics of honey bee colonies. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 7, 19-25.
Doğaroğlu, M. (2004). Modern Beekeeping Techniques Book. 2nd Edition. Doğa Beekeeping Trade, Tekirdağ, Türkiye.
Fèvre, D. P. & Dearden, P. K. (2024). Influence of nutrition on honeybee queen egg-laying. Apidologie, 55(53), 1-16.
Fine, J. D., Shpigler, H. Y., Ray, A. M., Beach, N. J., Sankey, A. L., Cash-Ahmed, A., Huang, Z. Y., Astrauskaite, I., Chao, R., Zhao, H. & Robinson, G. E. (2018). Quantifying the effects of pollen nutrition on honey bee queen egg laying with a new laboratory system. PLoS ONE, 13(9), e0203444, 1-16.
Goulson, D., Nicholls, E., Botias, C. & Rotheray, E. L. (2015). Bee declines driven by combined stress from parasites, pesticides, and lack of flowers. Science, 347, 6229.
Lee, K. V., Goblirsch, M., McDermott, E., Tarpy, D. R. & Spivak, M. (2019). Is the brood pattern within a honey bee colony a reliable indicator of queen quality? Insects, 10(1), 12, 1-17.
Miranda, C. R. E., Bitondi, M. M. G. & Simões, Z. L. P. (2003). Effect of proctolin on the egg-laying activity of Apis mellifera queens. Journal of Apicultural Research, 42(3), 35–38.
Nelson, D. L. & Gary, N. E. (1983). Honey productivity of honey bee Apis mellifera colonies in relation to body weight attractiveness and fecundity of the queen. Journal of Apicultural Research, 22(4), 209–213.
Page, R. E., Scheiner, R., Erber, J. & Amdam, G. V. (2006). The development and evolution of division of labor and foraging specialization in a social insect (Apis mellifera L.), Current Topics in Developmental Biology, Academic Press, 74, 253-286.
Pettis, J. S., Rice, N., Joselow, K, van Engelsdorp, D. & Chaimanee, V. (2016). Colony failure linked to low sperm viability in honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens and an exploration of potential causative factors. PLoS ONE, 11(2), e0147220, 1-10.
Rangel, J., Keller, J. J. & Tarpy, D. R. (2013). The effects of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen reproductive potential on colony growth. Insect Sociaux, 60, 65–73.
Shehata, S. M., Townsend, G. F. & Shuel, R. W. (1981). Seasonal physiological changes in queen and worker honeybees. Journal of Apicultural Research, 20(2), 69–78.
Spivak, M., Mader, E., Vaughan, M. & Euliss, N. H. (2011). The plight of the bees. Environmental Science & Technology Journal, 45, 34–38.
Svoboda, J., Pech, P. & Heneberg, P. (2023). Low concentrations of acetamiprid, deltamethrin, and sulfoxaflor, three commonly used insecticides, adversely affect ant queen survival and egg laying. Scientific Reports, 13, 14893, 1-11.
Tsvetanov, T., Hristov, P., Malinova, K. & Nikolova, T. (2013). Investigation of annual layed eggs activity of queen bees in various systems of hives raised in the region of Institute of Animal Science near Kostinbrod. Bulgarian Journal of Animal Husbandry,50(4-5), 163-166.
Yu, L., Shi, X., He, X., Zeng, Z., Yan, W. & Wu, X. (2022). High-quality queens produce high-quality offspring queens. Insects, 13(5), 486, 1-11.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61308/AYAN9013

Date published: 2024-12-16

Download full text