Exploitation of Rape Flow by Bee Colonies in Stationary and Migratory Apiary

Dariusz Teper,Piotr Semkiw,Piotr Skubida,Wojciech Skowronek

doi:10.2478/jas-2013-0010

Abstract

Summary The aim of the study conducted in 2009 - 2011 was to estimate the differences in the nectar and pollen oilseed rape flow exploitation by bee colonies kept in the stationary apiary (permanently located on the rape field) and in the migratory apiary. The migratory apiary was transferred to the rape field at the appropriate time and situated on the same area as the stationary apiary. Every study year, 8 bee colonies per apiary, in two apiaries of different types (stationary and migratory apiary), were prepared. The colonies from the migratory apiary were placed on the rape field when about 10% of rape flowers were blooming. During that time, bottom pollen traps were inserted into the hives of both apiaries. The pollen loads were collected every day, separately from each colony. After the end of the flow season, honey was extracted separately from each colony. The honey was weighed and samples were taken for the palynological analysis. The weather conditions were monitored during the whole study period. The average harvest of pollen loads from one bee colony during one day, was similar in both apiaries. The content of Brassica napus pollen was significantly higher in the pollen loads harvested from the migratory apiary. Despite the fact that the amounts of honey extracted from both apiaries were similar, the microscopic pollen analysis showed significantly higher percentage content of rape pollen in the honey from the migratory apiary. The results confirmed that placing the migratory apiary in the winter rape field at the time when about 10% of flowers were blooming resulted in a better exploitation of the rape flow by the bee colonies from this apiary in comparison to the colonies from the stationary apiary.

Highlights

Winter rape is one of the most important main nectar sources in Poland
Placing the migratory apiary on the rape field at a time when about 10% of rape flowers were blooming resulted in better exploitation of the rape flow in comparison to the stationary apiary permanently placed on the rape field
Higher percentage content of Brassica napus pollen in the pollen loads and honey from the migratory apiary was noted. This implies that bees from the migratory apiary exploited the flow better, but in case of bad weather conditions exploitation of rapeseed pollen flow by bee colonies from a migratory apiary can be worse, when compared to a stationary apiary

Summary

Introduction

Winter rape is one of the most important main nectar sources in Poland. Sugar yield from 1 ha of crops reaches 120 kg. In Poland, the increase in the amount of the obtained pollen loads to over 2 kg/colony, significantly decreases the amount of the extracted honey (Bratkowski and Wilde, 2002). In the regions with poor early spring flows of Salix, Acer or Taraxacum officinalis, pollen collection needs to be started at the beginning of the winter rape flowering period (Wilde et al, 1994). What is more, these studies had shown that the biggest amounts of pollen loads were obtained when the pollen load traps were inserted into the hives directly after placing the colonies on the flowering winter rape field

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Conclusion