Stock improvement and royal jelly production through bitter performing colonies of Apis mellifera L.
Loading...
Date
2013-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present investigations were carried out in apiary, Department of Entomology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Udham Singh Nagar) Uttarakhand. Present studies deals with a particular continuous observation of honey bee colony at every 14 days interval. Colony activity viz. honey, pollen, sealed brood, bees strength (NBF) and cleanliness traits from fifteen colonies were observed using sq. inch (in2) wire grid method. During the course of investigation, the most prolific queen was identified on the basis of maximum eggs area recorded in C12 (52.50 in2) and C11 (45.00 in2). In respect of larval area, the maximum area was observed in C11 (132.56 in2), C1 (104.50 in2) and C12 (93.00 in2) colonies. The colonies no. C12 (220.25 in2), C11 (189.50 in2) and C14 (176.00 in2) had maximum brood rearing activity. The maximum bees strength was recorded in C1 (8.00 NBF) followed by that in C2, C5, C8 and C14 (7.00 NBF) colonies and these colonies can be included in breeding programme considering the good strength. As far as honey area is concerned, the maximum honey was stored in C1 (464.00 in2) and C2 (245.00 in2) colonies hence categorized as good honey gathering colonies. Considering the pollen area, the colonies C5 (75.00 in2), C4 (65.50 in2) and C1 (58.00 in2) had maximum pollen store. On the basis of collecting debris, the maximum cleanliness was observed in C15 (5.22gm), C8 (4.50gm) and C11 (3.48gm). Evaluation of colonies for the hygienic behaviour was done by using the methodology “pin killed method”. The pin killed brood cells were marked for the purpose of identification and the maximum cleaning was observed in C1 (100%), C14 (94.25%) and C2 (93.77%) colonies hence they can be used for further breeding programme to strengthen diseases and pests resistance trait. The technique of larval grafting was adopted for queen rearing. The maximum no. of acceptance was recorded in C2 (23.00) and C1 (22.00) colonies. In respect of no. of sealing, the maximum no. of sealing was observed in C1 (19.00 out of 22.00 cells) and C2 (19.00 out of 23 cells), whereas, the maximum no. of emergence (15) was recorded in C1 and C2 colonies. In this study the increase or decrease weight of pre and post mating was observed. The queens were weighed 3 times i.e. three days after emergence; one day after the mating and after start of egg lying. The maximum weight of queen was recorded after the onset of oviposition (215.85mg) in C4 colony. The overall maximum average weight was recorded in C4 (203.50mg) and C7 (197.80mg) colonies. The effect of harvesting time (48, 72 and 96h) on production of royal jelly was studied by grafting about 24h old larvae. The maximum production of royal jelly was recorded when it was harvested from queen cell cups after 72h of grafting.
Description
Keywords
null