Honey and propolis production, hygiene and defense behaviors of two generations of Africanized honey bees

Abstract

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.

Apitoxin harvest affects population development but not the hygienic behavior of African-derived honey bees

“…We noted that the colonies showed similar patterns; however, this differed from reports in the literature (Nascimento et al, 2008). These results could be ascribed to environmental factors (temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure) and/or genetic factors (Garcia et al, 2013). Therefore, it is arguable that the similarities in the defensive behaviors seen in the colonies used here allow this study to avoid possible genetic effects that could influence our results.…”

“…The hygienic behavior of all colonies (control and treatment) was analyzed by the method of drilling of capped brood, in accordance with the method described by Garcia et al (2013). In treatment colonies, after apitoxin harvest, a frame with capped brood areas of each colony was selected, and two different areas containing approximately 100 cells (area A and B) were marked.…”

Honey bee lines selected for high propolis production also have superior hygienic behavior and increased honey and pollen stores

“…This tendency was not found by Garcia et al (2013), who only tested colonies selected for high propolis production. In our study, we also included and compared colonies selected for low propolis production, which allowed us to differentiate the degree of hygienic behavior as a function of propolis production tendencies.…”

“…When we consider the advantages for the colony of propolis in the hive and the possibility of economic gain from selling this product, it is clear that selection for propolis production is desirable and viable, especially given the high degree of heritability (h 2 = 0.87) for this characteristic (Garcia et al, 2013). Hygienic behavior also has a high heritability rate, ranging from 0.52 to 0.65 (Rinderer, 1986;Harbo and Harris, 1999;Garcia et al, 2013). However, Garcia et al (2013) found no significant correlation between propolis production and hygienic behavior, which would make indirect selection for one of the characteristics by selecting for the other unviable.…”

“…Hygienic behavior also has a high heritability rate, ranging from 0.52 to 0.65 (Rinderer, 1986;Harbo and Harris, 1999;Garcia et al, 2013). However, Garcia et al (2013) found no significant correlation between propolis production and hygienic behavior, which would make indirect selection for one of the characteristics by selecting for the other unviable.…”