Honey and propolis production, hygiene and defense behaviors of two generations of Africanized honey bees
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162013000200003Palavras-chave:
Apis mellifera, animal production, ethology, selectionResumo
Phenotypic characters of honeybees, relevant to beekeepers, can be evaluated by studying correlations between them, and the correlated characteristics can be evaluated in the short term to assist in monitoring of annual genetic progress. This work therefore aims to evaluate the production of honey and propolis, the hygiene and defensive behaviours of two generations of Africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae), to estimate the correlations between them and their heritability. We used 30 Langstroth beehives in apiaries in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná State, Brazil. We used a method of drilling pupae to evaluate hygiene behaviour and the velveteen ball method to test defensive behaviour. We selected ten colonies which had the best honey and propolis production, and which produced F1 queens that were then transferred to beehives at an experimental farm, in order to observe honey and propolis production, hygiene and defence behaviours of their female offspring. The estimated differences for each characteristic between the generations, the correlations between them within each generation and their heritability suggest that selection of colonies based on propolis production was more efficient at maintaining this high production than was selection based on honey production according to the performance of the colonies for this characteristic. The selected behavioural characteristics can be used to enhance performance, but not for improving yield characteristics evaluated.Downloads
Os dados de download ainda não estão disponíveis.
Downloads
Publicado
2013-04-01
Edição
Seção
Ciência Animal e Pastagens
Licença
Todo o conteúdo do periódico, exceto onde está identificado, está licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons do tipo atribuição BY-NC.Como Citar
Honey and propolis production, hygiene and defense behaviors of two generations of Africanized honey bees . (2013). Scientia Agricola, 70(2), 74-81. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162013000200003