Biology and biometric studies on Apis cerana indica F. and Apis mellifera ligustica Spin.
Loading...
Files
Date
1998
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
With a view to generate detailed basic information on the biology, biometrics
and natural enemies of Indian and Italian bees in Kerala an experiment was carried out
at the Apiary of Kcrala J\gricultural University, College of J\gricultUf'e, Vcllayani, lrom
September 1995 to August 1996. The yellow strain of Italian bees, Apis mellifera
linguistica L and Indian bees Apis ceraua indica were used for the study. An abstract
of the result is given below.
III all the castes the egg period took almoxt :1 days The larval period of 11.
niellifera workers ranged from 582 to 5.93 days, the pupal period ranged from 10.55
to 11.15 days and total developmental period from 19.6 to 20.66. The larval period of
drones took 6.96' to 7. 17 days, pupal period took 13. 14 to 13.28 days and total
developmental period took 23.54 to 25.53 days. The mean larval period of A. cerana
indica workers varied nom 5.86 to 5.91 clays, pupal period varied from 1017 to 10.20 days and total developmental period varied from 18.89 to 19.11 days The larval period of drones ranged lrom 6.95 to 7.09 days, pupal period ranged Irom 12.99 to
13.23 days and total developmental period ranged from 2277 to 23J4 days The mean
larval, pupal and total developmental period in case of A tnellifcra queens were 4.66,
7.2 and 14.54 days and in case of A. cerana indica 484, 7.12 and 14.74 days
respectively.
The egg size of different castes of both the bees remained the same throughout
the egg period. The sizes (length x breadth) of I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days old worker larvae
------------
were 2.06 x 0.59,4.67 x 1.22, 7.63 x 2.41, 10.58 x 3.64 and 13.75 x 5.01 for A.
mellifera and 1.93 x 0.55, 5.46 x 1.78, 7.98 x 2.34, 7.98 x 3.79 and 8.81 x 4.22 mm
for A. cerana indica respectively. The sizes of larvae increased from 3.4 x 0.83 mm in
the very first day of hatching to 16.68 x 7.21 mm in the sixth day in drones of A.
mellifera and from 2.58 x 0.7 mm to 11.75 x 6.97 mm in case of drones of A. cerana
indica. The size increase continued upto first day after capping in both the castes.
Mean average eggs laid by A. mellifera ranged from 162 in December to 7] 8 in
August. The average annual performance was 184430 eggs. A. cerana indica queens
laid on an average 247 eggs daily and 88086 eggs in an year.
The mean longevity of A. mellifera workers ranged from 28.22 days for April
10 born bees to 30.97 days for June 16 born bees. The longevity of A. cerana indica
workers ranged from 33.46 days for April 11 born bees to 33.32 days for June 16 born
bees. The mean longevity of A. cerana indica drone bees born on April 11 was 34.58
days.
Among the natural enerrues, hornets, mite, bee eater birds and death head
moths were observed in A. mellifera colonies. Hornet (Vespa orientalis)attack was
more during May to December between 7 AM and 10 AM of the day. Few wax
moth (Galleria mellonellai larvae were observed during brood rearing season though
no damage was noticed. Death head moth ( Acherontia sryx) were observed from
September to November. Brood mite (Tropilaeps darae) was observed throughout
the year though it was more severe during major brood rearing season. The bee eater
birds (Merops orientalis) were seen active during the months of October to February.
In A. cerana indica colonies hornets, wax moth and Thai sac brood disease
were observed. Hornet and wax moth incidence followed the same pattern as in A.
mellifera. Thai sac brood virus disease was more severe during September to
November.
Description
PG
Keywords
null
Citation
171617