Effect of Some Substances as Therapy Treatments On The Hygienic Behavior of Honey Bee Worker, Apis mellifera L.

Abstract

Hygienic behavior of honeybee workers involves inspection, uncapping and removal of diseased and dead brood from the colony cells. The present study was conducted to clarify the effect of three compounds as therapy treatments against certain disease and pests on honey bee workers hygienic behavior as percentage in the presence of pin-killed brood. Colonies were more efficient in the removal activity of dead brood, 24 hours after application. The removal activity of dead brood was significantly higher after treatment as compared with that recoded before treatment, being 5.00, 3.67 and 4.33 % after using marjoram oil, oxalic acid and Oxytetracycline (Terramycin ), respectively. The corresponding percentages before treatment were 17.33, 14.00, and 13.67 % of brood, respectively.