摘要:

SummaryHeritability (h2) of corbicular area in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) was estimated from the variance components of half-sib families. Corbicular area was measured on 30 worker progeny from each of 73 free-mated queens which were the daughters of 8 mother queens. Heritability was estimated to be 1·014±0·195. This large value forh2indicates that selection for larger corbicular area is possible and, depending upon the genetic correlation, may result in concomitant selection for improved honey production.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100662

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryHeritability of longevity or length of life of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) was estimated from the variance components of half-sib families. Measurements were made of the life-spans of worker progeny from 27 free-mated queens which were the daughters of 6 queens. The heritability of length of life-span was estimated to be 0·196±0·024. Selection for longer life, therefore, appears feasible and a correlated increase in colony honey production, depending upon the magnitude of the genetic correlation between these two traits, should also be possible.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100663

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryThoracic hair on honeybees (Apis melliferaL.) occurs in two distinct forms, short and long. Both forms are branched but differ in their branching morphology, and together provide an efficient insulating layer against heat loss in clusters of bees. Hairless honeybees (mutantApis mellifera cantica) in small clusters exposed to 2°C consumed significantly more oxygen and dissipated more metabolic energy than their normal hairy relatives. They also more frequently fell into chill coma.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100664

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryHoneybees (Apis mellifera) exercise distinct foraging preferences among sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed-parent lines and hybrid cultivars. Floral nectaries of over 100 sunflower cultivars/species were examined and compared to develop correlations between particular anatomical characteristics and honeybee predilection. The nectary, as revealed by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, may be circular or a 4- to 8-sided ring surrounding the base of the style directly above the ovary. Size of the nectary and number and placement of stomata differed among the genotypes and species studied. Florets of highly attractive genotypes had larger nectaries with more stomata than florets of less attractive ones. Results suggest that nectary characteristics may be heritable and that it may be possible through breeding to alter the relative attractiveness of plants to honeybees.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100665

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryComparisons of Africanized and European honeybees (Apis mellifera) were made during two periods of different nectar availability in tropical dry forest in Venezuela. Field colonies were used to study honey yields, nectar-load characteristics, and flight activity including flight initiation and cessation. Observation-hive colonies were used to study dance communication and recruitment. Throughout these various measurements significant interactions occurred between geographic type of bee and period of nectar availability. Generally, in conditions of good nectar availability, European bees collected more and larger nectar loads, and produced more honey/colony/day than Africanized bees, possibly because of their more intensive recruitment of foragers. Africanized bees were marginally superior for some variables in conditions of low nectar availability. The results support the conclusion that, based on honey production alone, the European honeybee is the more desirable bee for use in commercial beekeeping.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100666

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryThe dance communication of Asiatic honeybees is qualitatively similar to that ofApis mellifera.However, inA. ceranaandA. floreaforaging at artificial feeders the dance tempo was observed to decline (i.e., the time per dance increased) more rapidly than has been reported forA. melliferaas distance to the food source increased.Apis ceranaandA. floreaforage over short distances; at 3 of the 6 sites in this trialA. ceranadid not visit feeders beyond 500 m. InA. dorsatathe change in dance tempo with increasing distance to forage was much slower and similar, in this respect, to that reported forA. mellifera.BothA. dorsataandA. melliferaare able to forage over long distances, although in this trial 72% ofA. dorsataforagers did not fly beyond 400 m.Apis ceranaandA. floreamay be unable to communicate long distances to food sources, as these distances would be indicated by very slow dances. These potential intrinsic limits, and observed constraints on foraging distance inA. cerana, suggests that beekeepers should manageA. ceranain small, well separated apiaries. In this way floral resources over small areas would not become so depleted by high densities of bees that honey yields are reduced.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100667

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryAn automated system is described for continuous recording of sound emission by honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies as a measure of activity. Colonies were monitored throughout the year. Output of sound, with respect to both amplitude and duration, was greatest in summer, declined to a low level in autumn, and ceased by December, resuming in mid-January. Colonies from which light was excluded during the winter re-established their normal seasonal pattern at the same time as those exposed to the natural photoperiod. During the active season, diurnal activity was generally high in daytime and low at night; however, initiation of activity did not coincide closely with sunrise nor cessation with sunset. Most of the sound was at frequencies around 300, 410 and 510 Hz.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100668

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryData from previous studies by the authors were re-examined and compared with previously unpublished results.Responses of groups of 30 caged worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) to introduced hivemates, intruder bees (healthy non-hivemates) and bees afflicted with chronic bee paralysis were monitored in late May and late July at c. 24·4°C. Bees with paralysis elicited the greatest response in both May and July. Responses to hivemates and intruders were similar in May, whereas in July intruders elicited a greater response than hivemates. Average temperature and barometic pressure in the apiary from which test bees were taken were similar during the two observation periods. Relativity humidity (RH) averaged 42% in May and 71% in July, but responses of caged bees maintained experimentally at RH values of 48% and 90% were not significantly different. Changes in the weight of a scale-hive in the same apiary indicated that the change in responsiveness to intruder bees occurred as a nectar flow waned and a dearth period began.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100669

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryAustralian honeys from three floral sources were exposed to gamma-radiation doses of 0–25 kilogray. The radiation treatment caused slight reductions in Pfund colour grade and diastase number but 5-hydroxymethyl- furfural levels decreased substantially to an extent depending on dose level.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100670

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummarySamples of honey from various floral sources and‘honey’from sucrose-fed bees (Apis mellifera) were compared for their activity in clarifying apple juice. Activity was directly related to honey protein content. Proteins were separated by column chromatography and tested for their ability to clarify apple juice. Regardless of their origin, all honey samples, including sucrose‘honey’, contained the same two major protein components, as indicated by gel electrophoresis. One of these showed clarifying activity in apple juice. It was concluded that the honey protein responsible for clarifying apple juice originates in honeybees.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1985.11100671

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1985

数据来源: Taylor