The Influence of Brood Survival Rates on the Behavioral Patterns, Economic Aspects and Resistant Traits of Italian Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Reared on Indian Mustard in Bihar
Nagendra Kumar
Department of Entomology, PGCA, RPCAU, Pusa, India.
Saikat Ghosh
Department of Entomology, PGCA, RPCAU, Pusa, India.
Katta Subramanya Sai Teja *
Department of Entomology, PGCA, RPCAU, Pusa, India.
G Balraj
Department of Entomology, PGCA, RPCAU, Pusa, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
To better understand Apis mellifera foraging behaviour for mustard, this study examined how brood survival rates affected the species behavioural, economic and resistant traits. Out of 10 colonies used for the study, the results showed that 1 colony had a low rate of brood survival, 3 colonies had a medium rate, and 6 colonies had a high rate. In the experiment on scattered brood patterns, poor, medium and excellent brood patterns were found in 1, 2, and 7 colonies, respectively. According to the data on bee activity collected, the majority of bees were observed leaving between the hours of 9:00 and 10:00 and arriving between the hours of 16:00 and 17:00. According to the economic attributes data, colonies with high and moderate brood survival rates had more honey and pollen reserves. According to the hygienic behaviour results, colonies with high and moderate brood survival rates had 100 per cent efficiency while colonies with low brood survival rates had the lowest efficiency at 76 per cent.
Keywords: Bee activity, brood, mustard, pollen