Influence of coniferous-wormwood extract on the viability of bee colonies in Eastern Siberia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of maintaining viability and increasing the productivity of honey bees in Eastern Siberia. The benefits of coniferous wormwood extract for autumn-spring feeding of bee colonies are described. The researches have shown that bees more actively took food with coniferous wormwood extract than regular sugar syrup. Feeding bees with syrup with extract positively influenced the course of wintering of bees: in the experimental group there was 100% safety. A positive effect of the extract on the development of bee colonies, flight activity of bees was noted: it was seen that the individuals were strong and active. As a result of the researches, it was noticed that after a six-fold feeding of bees with coniferous wormwood extract, the strength of the bee colonies, the average honey and wax productivity, the number of brood and received nucleus increased. The daily increase of population made it possible to maintain an optimal microclimate in the brood nest. It was found that stimulative feeding with the extract increased resistance to such common diseases as varroatosis (there was an 82.8% reduction in the mite strike of bee colonies), nosematosis and ascospherosis. These observations indicate that bee colonies had a huge army of working bees, the microclimate inside the nest was healthy, and it made the maximum use of forces for further increase of individuals and making products.