Queen excluders enhance honey production in African honey bees, <i>Apis mellifera</i>, by limiting brood rearing during peak nectar flow

This study was achieved in a private apiary located in a banana farm in Sa El Hagar, Basioun, Gharbia, Egypt from August 15, 2019 to May 25, 2020, including the banana ( Musa sp., Musaceae) flow season (August and September) and extend to Egyptian clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Fabaceae) flow season (May). The study aimed to evaluate the effect of confining the queen during the banana flow season on the brood rearing, honey yield, and activation of worker's ovaries. Also, we determined the negative impact of caging the queen during the banana flow season on the activity of the colony in brood rearing, storing pollen, and honey yield after releasing the queen on 5 October, extending to the next flow season in May. The obtained results showed that the honeybee colonies with the caged queen produced significantly more honey yield and less brood production than the free queen ones during the banana flow season. Also, the caging of the queen did not affect the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the partial development of the ovaries of some workers, but they did not lay eggs. In addition, releasing the queens suppressed the ovaries of the laying workers. It can be concluded that caging the queen during the banana flow season helps the colonies to produce more honey yield without effect on the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the ovaries development of few workers without egg-laying.

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The impact of caging the queens during the flow season on some biological activities of honeybee colonies

Shawer

Rakha

Taha

et al. 2021

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

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The mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina Westwood): a review of its biology, ecology and utilisation in Zimbabwe

Bara

Sithole

Macheka

2022

JIFF

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The study was aimed at reviewing literature related to traditional mopane production as well as exploring the potential for diapause termination to allow for continuous year-round production. Larvae of mopane worms (Gonimbrasia belina) are highly nutritious and popular food for many people in Southern Africa. Improved and sustained supplies of mopane worms in urban and rural areas can potentially address food and nutrition security problems of the mopane worm harvesters and producers financially. This also has the added advantage of improving people’s access to high-protein food. However, harvesting of G. belina larvae takes place during a short period (main harvesting period is from November to December and a smaller second harvest April-May). In addition, the availability of G. belina is a function of parasitism, time of the year, and amount of rainfall, making the production not only seasonal but also erratic and unreliable. The absence of a regulatory and monitoring policy framework that protects G. belina from over harvesting and over exploitation is also a major concern. These problems, coupled with the seasonal nature of the production hinders all year round harvesting and supply. Findings from this study reveal that the literature is outdated, scant and highlights the need for more research to be conducted on the species. Furthermore, the findings suggest that mopane worms are a significant source of protein for vulnerable population groups, capable of addressing their nutritional protein and livelihood needs. To this end, the paper highlights opportunities for further research and the optimisation of production processes.

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Queen excluders enhance honey production in African honey bees, Apis mellifera, by limiting brood rearing during peak nectar flow

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

The impact of caging the queens during the flow season on some biological activities of honeybee colonies

The impact of caging the queens during the flow season on some biological activities of honeybee colonies

The mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina Westwood): a review of its biology, ecology and utilisation in Zimbabwe

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