摘要:

SummaryThe flight activity of two coloniesM. m. marginataand six colonies ofM. m. obscuriorwas studied in São Paulo, Brazil during three periods in 1981–1983. All colonies were hived except for one colony ofM. m. obscuriorwhich nested in a hollow tree. The two subspecies showed the same responses to the climatic factors analysed. Flight activity was correlated positively with temperature and negatively with RH. In favourable conditions foraging took place throughout the day but both species were most active between 11 and 13 h. In the last observation period (October 1982-January 1983), when only twoobscuriorcolonies were studied, flight activity was not correlated to RH, occurring even when RH was unfavourably high. This was a very rainy season, and it is suggested that the behaviour of the bees indicates a flexible response to prevailing weather conditions.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100685

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryA simple system of differential equations is presented to simulate the intracolonial population dynamics of non-swarming colonies of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) in temperate zones. The model generates colony growth patterns that are in agreement with empirical data. A new hypothesis based on the model is proposed to explain the occurrence of the brood-rearing peaks in non-swarming colonies. It focuses on the importance of the initiation of swarming behavioural patterns when the population density of workers exceeds a critical number. A sensitivity analysis of the model revealed considerable variation among the different parameters integrated in the model with regard to influence on colony dynamics. The information potential in a dynamic model of this kind is discussed.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100686

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryThe effect of population size on brood production, worker survival and gain or loss of honey was studied in colonies of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Louisiana, USA. About 11 kg of bees were caged, stored for two days and subdivided into five populations numbering 2300, 4500, 9000, 17 000 and 35 000 bees. Each colony was started with a laying queen, no brood, and 230 bees per 1000 cm3of hive space. The test ended 19 days after queen release, just before adult bees began to emerge. The test was conducted 10 times (two replicates being used in each of February, April, June, August and October). The two largest populations produced more honey per bee and in dearth times and winter consumed less honey per bee. Colonies of 4500 bees produced the most brood per bee; as population increased above that number brood production per bee decreased. However, during summer dearth, the colonies of 9000 bees produced the most brood per bee. Overall, the optimal colony size was 9000 bees; the rate of weight gain in colonies of this size was nearer to that of the two largest populations and the rate of brood production was nearer to that of the two smaller colonies.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100687

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryHoneybees (Apismellifera) from a line which had been selected for high pollen-hoarding behaviour (HPH) hoarded more pollen than bees from a low pollen-hoarding line (LPH) when they were kept in observation colonies with known amounts of brood. These differences were not found when brood was in the egg stage and pollen stores were small, but were large and significant when brood was in the larval stage and pollen stores were more abundant. Differences in amounts of stored pollen that were established between the lines during the larval stage were maintained after brood cells were capped, but amounts of pollen stored did not change significantly. HPH bees also hoarded more pollen in the absence of brood. The two lines used similar amounts of pollen and reared similar amounts of brood. Mortality of the LPH bees was higher and varied significantly more than that of the HPH bees. It is suggested that bees which hoard a large amount of pollen are either less inhibited from collecting pollen by the presence of stored pollen or more stimulated to collect pollen by its absence.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100688

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryAn artificial diet which simulates royal jelly and can be used for the rearing of honeybee larvae (Apis mellifera) is described. The diet is chemically defined except for protein from royal jelly; it also contains 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) from royal jelly. More than 60 perfect adults were reared on the diet. Survival was as high as for control bees reared on commercial royal jelly. Caste, as indicated by mandibles, hind legs and sting lancets, was more worker-like than for controls, but two queen-like individuals were obtained. Results of feeding trials involving variations from the standard formulation indicated rather specific requirements for some constituents. The water-insoluble protein fraction from royal jelly was sufficient of itself to support complete development, but the soluble fraction, with the same amino acid composition, was not. Larvae died early when fed on diets containing egg albumen or enzyme-hydrolysed casein, or when 5–6% of the protein complement was replaced by free amino acids. Both an inorganic and an organic phosphate source were necessary. Development was normal when half of the 10-HDA was replaced with 9-oxo-2-decenoic acid.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100689

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryThe effect of supersedure breeding programmes (replacing each queen with her own daughter) on the maintenance of allelic diversity at the sex-determining locus of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) is analysed. In the models considered, the variances of the allele frequency change at the sex locus (close to equilibrium), and at ordinary loci, have a similar general appearance and they are inversely related to the effective population size. This suggests that supersedure breeding programmes affect genetic variation at the two types of loci qualitatively in a similar way. Quantitatively, the allele frequency changes at the sex locus are affected more strongly by selection than by breeding programmes when the number of sex alleles in the population is relatively small. Computer simulations showed that the time required to reduce the number of alleles of a polymorphic locus by one at either the sex locus or other loci is approximately proportional to the effective population size.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100690

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryMeasurements were made of corbicular areas (of a total of 1025 corbiculae) in 2 lines of honeybees (Apis mellifera) selected for high and low pollen hoarding respectively. The sample from each line comprised about 30 newly emerged workers from each of 9 queens representing 3 sublines. Analyses of variance revealed highly significant differences among the 18 queens (P

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100691

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryTwenty returning pollen foragers with conspicuous pollen loads were collected at the entrance of each of 10 colonies and the corbicular areas and relative volumes of the pollen pellets were measured for each metathoracic leg. The areas of the 382 corbiculae measured ranged from 1·543 to 2·281 mm2and pollen pellet volumes from 5·066 to 47·74 mm3. Corbicular area and pollen pellet volume were significantly correlated (r= 0·131,n= 382, P = 0·0103). The correlation was even greater for the 100 largest pairs of corbiculae bearing pollen pellets more than 20 mm3in volume (r= 0·256,n= 100, P = 0·0099). It was concluded that workers with large corbiculae carry significantly larger pollen pellets than workers with smaller corbiculae. Possible effects on colony honey yields are discussed.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100692

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryBlood agar medium was tested for use in culturingBacillus larvaefrom diseased honeybee larvae for the diagnosis of American foul brood disease. It gave superior results to other commonly used media. Preparations stained with Gram stain were easier to interpret in microscopical examinations for spores and vegetative cells than those stained with nigrosin. LikelyB. larvaeisolates were confirmed by negative results in the catalase test. Using this method, confirmation of American foul brood disease could be achieved in 48 h.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100693

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SummaryThe incidence of chalk brood infection was compared among groups of 10 honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies maintained on each of 5 different comb types: comb drawn from foundation, honey-super comb that had been used for storing honey but not for brood rearing, comb that had been used as brood comb for 5–30 and 30–45 years, and old brood comb that had been fumigated with ethylene oxide prior to use. The level of chalk brood disease ranged from negligible to over 6% and was lowest in the colonies with foundation or super comb, intermediate in the colonies with fumigated comb, and highest in the colonies with the two types of older brood comb. The results indicate that old brood comb contributes to the development of chalk brood disease in honeybee colonies, possibly by serving as a reservoir forAscosphaera apisspores or by promoting the growth of the pathogen.

ISSN:0021-8839    

DOI:10.1080/00218839.1986.11100694

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor