Queen Excluder Research Articles

Current Status and Challenges of Improved Bee Keeping Technology Adoption in Ethiopia: A Review

The aim of this review is to give an overview of current modern beekeeping technologies in Ethiopia and to highlight once again the challenges of adopting beekeeping technology. Bee-keeping in Ethiopia is common and one of the agricultural activities. Ethiopia is the leading honey producer in Africa and is one of the ten largest producers in the world (with around 23.6% of the African and 2.1% of the world production. Despite the long tradition of beekeeping in Ethiopia having the highest bee density and being the leading honey producer as well as one of the largest bee waxes exporting country in Africa, the share of sub sector in the GDP has never been commensurate with huge number of honey colonies and the country’s potential for beekeeping. To increase production and productivity of honey and bee wax, different improved technologies have been used in the last 7-10 year. Backyard beekeeping can not only be conducted with traditional, but also with transitional or modern beehives. Lack of bee-keeping equipment (like modern beehives, wax molds, honey extractors, queen excluders) and accessories, training on beekeeping technology, awareness creation, extension contact and market problem were the major determinant factors of adoption of modern beekeeping technology. Despite variations in distribution and adoption levels, the utilization of beekeeping technology has now commenced across all regions of the nation hives, adding and reducing supper. The management of bee colonies constitutes a fundamental aspect of contemporary beekeeping practices within the country. Beekeeping equipment and accessories must be readily available to beekeepers, with a significant focus on enhancing productivity and implementing proper management techniques for contemporary beehives. Such measures have the potential to enhance the likelihood of beekeepers adopting and utilizing modern beehive technology.

Winter Carbon Dioxide Measurement in Honeybee Hives

Sensor technologies have sufficiently advanced to provide low-cost devices that can quantify carbon dioxide levels in honeybee hives with high temporal resolution and in a small enough package for hive deployment. Recent publications have shown that summer carbon dioxide levels vary throughout the day and night over ranges that typically exceed 5000 ppm. Such dramatic changes in a measurable parameter associated with bee physiology are likely to convey information about the colony health. In this work, we present data from four UK-based hives collected through the winter of 2022/2023, with a focus on seeing if carbon dioxide can indicate when colonies are at risk of failure. These hives have been fitted with two Sensirion SCD41 photoacoustic non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) carbon dioxide sensors, one in the queen excluder, at the top of the brood box, and one in the crown board, at the top of the hive. Hive scales have been used to monitor the hive mass, and internal and external temperature sensors have been included. Embedded accelerometers in the central frame of the brood box have been used to measure vibrations. Data showed that the high daily variation in carbon dioxide continued throughout the coldest days of winter, and the vibrational data suggested that daily fanning may be responsible for restoring lower carbon dioxide levels. The process of fanning will draw in colder air to the hive at a time when the bees should be using their energy to maintain the colony temperature. Monitoring carbon dioxide may provide feedback, prompting human intervention when the colony is close to collapse, and a better understanding may contribute to discussions on future hive design.

Effects of queen excluders on the colony dynamics of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) under biodynamic management

The evaluation of beekeeping management practices (BMPs) is important for beekeepers worldwide because their choice affects health and survival of managed honeybee (A. mellifera L.) colonies and touches ethical and economic questions. This study focusses on queen excluders, a common hive addition in contemporary beekeeping. Its impacts are controversially discussed but have not been studied scientifically yet. Within a 4-year participatory on-farm experiment, we assessed the effects on colony dynamics in 64 hives in 8 apiaries during one season in Germany using the Liebefeld estimation method. We found no significant deviation for parameters of colony dynamics between hives managed with and without queen excluders. A qualitative decision-making tool (Pugh decision matrix) facilitated concept selection only for specific beekeepers.

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

A Monitoring System for Carbon Dioxide in Honeybee Hives: An Indicator of Colony Health

Non-dispersive infra-red (NDIR) detectors have become the dominant method for measuring atmospheric CO2, which is thought to be an important gas for honeybee colony health. In this work we describe a microcontroller-based system used to collect data from Senserion SCD41 NDIR sensors placed in the crown boards and queen excluders of honeybee colonies. The same sensors also provide relative humidity and temperature data. Several months of data have been recorded from four different hives. The mass change measurements, from hive scales, when foragers leave the hive were compared with the data from the gas sensors. Our data suggest that it is possible to estimate the colony size from the change in measured CO2, however no such link with the humidity is observed. Data are presented showing the CO2 decreasing over many weeks as a colony dies.

Commercial Bombus impatiens colonies function as ecological traps for wild queens

Abstract In response to anthropogenic environmental change, the cues that animals use throughout their lifecycle to optimize fitness may become unreliable, resulting in an ecological trap. Here we investigated whether commercial bumble bee Bombus impatiens colonies managed for early spring crop pollination act as ecological traps for wild nest‐searching Bombus queens by subverting their natural nest usurpation behaviour. An average of 10 dead wild queens were recovered from each standard colony during the 2‐week period of the experiment, but colonies with queen excluders were successful in preventing wild queen deaths. The use of queen excluders did not impact colony performance in terms of resident queen survival, colony reproduction, colony weight gain or worker body size. Sites where wild nest‐searching queens were small had higher rates of failed usurpation, suggesting smaller‐sized queens are disproportionately at risk from failed usurpation. Furthermore, sites where commercial colonies without queen excluders were introduced for spring crop pollination had fewer bumble bee visits to a later‐blooming crop compared to sites without commercial colonies. Synthesis and applications. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which commercial colonies can negatively impact wild bumble bee populations and their pollination services. At the same time, we demonstrate a simple and inexpensive risk mitigation tool—a queen excluder—was 100% effective at eliminating this risk without compromising colony performance. Commercial colonies used outdoors during the bumble bee nest‐searching period should be fit with queen excluders to prevent negative impacts on wild pollinator communities and their services.

Effect of queen excluder placing on honey yield and honeybee colony performance in selected beekeeping areas of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Effect of queen excluder placing on honey yield and honeybee colony performance in selected beekeeping areas of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Assessment of honeybee queen excluder use practices in selected districts of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia

Assessment of honeybee queen excluder use practices in selected districts of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia

Black Queen Cell Disease in Honeybees. Effect of a Citric Extract Adsorbed To a Tintanium Nanoparticle

Titanium nanoparticles with citrus extracts adsorbed to its structure dissolved in water was used to control this viral disease of bees. Initially, two nuclei of two- and three-frame bees, four well-populated three-frame nuclei with a progenitor queen selected and inseminated to obtain larvae for translarvae, two starter hives consisting of two jumbo hive bodies separated by a queen excluder, two finisher hives with a queen excluder and a queen excluder were used, two finishing hives with a capacity of one and a half jumbo hives (fifteen frames), with a queen excluder placed vertically at the height of the tenth frame acting as a separator between the queen part and the queenless section. 1ST STAGE. A dilution of 1 litre of product in 10,000 litres of water, equivalent to 0.1 ml of product per litre of water. 2nd STAGE A dilution of 1 litre in 200 litres of water, equivalent to 5 ml of product per litre of water. The dilution was sprayed directly to each of the honeycombs with the bees on the surface. Three applications, one every week, the product has a life of 72 hours. After the last application there have been at least 5 translarvae without signs of the disease in the real cells of 10 to 11 days of age and transferred to their nuclei of fertilization, there were deaths of pupae or queens almost to be born but these are fully formed situation or symptom that does not correspond to the disease that concerns us. It is concluded that NANOCYT is effective in controlling black queen cell disease in honey bees.

Caging the queen with and without a comb section to achieve high efficacy of Varroa destructor control

We investigated the application of queen caging to prevent autumn brood rearing. In comparative experiments, cages equipped with queen excluders on both sides were used. Only cages of the experimental group were supplied with comb sections. Survival of queens and the influence of various factors on brood rearing in cages and in the nest after the queen had been released were compared. The factors included the position of caged queens in the nest (in the middle or in the periphery), comb sections with empty or honey-filled cells, or with drone cells. The queens did not perish in cages supplied with a worker comb section, but 8% of them perished in cages without it. One queen perished in the cage with drone comb section. The number of colonies rearing brood and the brood area in the nest was higher than those in the cage. There was no correlation between the position of the caged queen in the nest and brood production in the cage and later in the nest. Comb section fullness had no impact on brood rearing in the cage. In cages with a drone comb section, no brood was observed besides eggs, but the total brood area (including eggs) did not differ from the worker comb section group in cages and later in the nest. Caging of the queens on an empty worker comb section for 21 days supports their survival and enables the beekeeper to carry out successful Varroa control earlier in autumn.

Assessing of reproductive performance of commercial Bombus terrestris dalmatinus colonies in different conditions and some practical ways to mitigation of its invasive risk

To better understand the potential establishment and spread of B. t. dalmatinus, we compared reproductive outputs of 45 commercially produced B. t. dalmatinus colonies, containing one queen and 50 workers in their natural habitat, greenhouse, and laboratory conditions. The total number of adult gynes and gyne pupae produced per colony was significantly higher in the laboratory colonies (100.90 ± 46.20) than in the field colonies (63.70 ± 44.70) and greenhouse colonies (28.47 ± 12.39), respectively. Although laboratory colonies significantly produced more gynes, reproductive abilities of greenhouse and field colonies show that commercial movement of bumblebee colonies for pollination could have serious impacts on natural ecosystems notably for pollination of open field crops. The nest entrance of all colonies was restricted by fitting with a queen excluder. All vents of the greenhouses were suitably covered with nets. Colonies were removed from the greenhouses about 6 weeks after initial placement. Following these measures, we prevented 266 gynes from escaping from 15 hives in 2.3 ha area of tomato greenhouse. To be 100% effective, we strongly recommend that these measures should be implemented together.

The biological and technological aspects of obtaining the geleeroyale

In presented work there is given data of experimental researches of infl uence of queen-rearing colony on larval bees adoption and infl uence of diff erent technological elements on larval bees adoption and obtaining of honeybee geleeroyale. The aim of the work is optimization of technological processes of geleeroyaleobtaining and researching of their infl uence on larval bees adoption and production of geleeroyale. It was tasked to explore diff erent ways of obtaining geleeroyaleand to choose the most optimal one for industrial apiary conditions. There were compared some ways of complete and incomplete orphanage of bee families. The method of incomplete (partial) orphanage of bee family means that queen bee wasn’t completely isolated from bee family, and complete orphanage means that queen bees were excluded. Analyzing the biological mechanism of incomplete orphanage method where bees also adopt larvae for rearing and produce geleeroyale, it is possible to suspect that only a part of bees feel the presence of queen. Only year-long beesfeel the presence of queen because they are the ones who penetrate through the diaphragm section with built-in block of queen excluder and provide bee family with nectar and protein food. Another part of bees (nurse bees) which don’t have access behind the diaphragm, where queen bee works, feel its absence and intensively feed up larvae on grafting frames producing geleeroyale. Using the Nicot system it is observed the highest larvae adoption and the biggest mass of obtained geleeroyalecompared with other technological elements We need to choose the methods of bee family formation in order to getgeleeroyale depending on season period, specifi c conditions, tasks and production volume. For more simplifi ed technology of geleeroyaleobtaining it is recommended to use Nicot system. Key words: bee family, nurse colony, larva, geleeroyale, queen-cell cumulosol, Nicot system, complete orphanage, partial orphanage of bee family.

English

The study was conducted to assess beekeeping practices, seasonal colony management gaps in eastern, south-east and central zones of Tigray region in northern Ethiopia. About 384 beekeepers were interviewed. The trend of honeybee colonies indicated an increase in the last five years but with variables (72%) in honey production. Majority (77.3%) of beekeepers inspected their apiary and honeybee colonies externally and only 21.7% did such inspection inside the hive. The most common locally available supplement feed included sugar syrup (94.6%), Shiro (peas and beans flour) (89.1%), tihni (barley flour) (87.6%), maize flour (25.5%), honey (14.4%) and fafa (supplementary food for infants) (7.9%). Major colony management gaps observed entailed adding super by guessing (47.9%), reluctance to decreasing super (35.5%), continued use of foundation sheets (40.4%) and queen excluder not removed (37.9%). The frequency of colonization was significantly different (p<0.05) in frame beehives but not in traditional hives. The seasonal colony activities included brood rearing in July to September; reproductive colony swarming, August to September; absconding, March to June; dearth periods, January to May; high availability of honeybee plants, July to December; and honey harvesting period, September to November. Therefore, seasonal colony management practices followed by floral cycle should be practiced by empowering beekeepers with skill in modern beekeeping management in order to improve their seasonal bee management practices, thus increasing honey production. Key words: Agro-ecology, beekeeping, honeybee colony, management, seasonal, Tigray

4.14 Developing methods for field experiments using commercially reared bumblebee colonies – initial colony strength and experimental duration as influential factors

Semi-field and field experiments with commercially used bumblebees (e.g. Bombus terrestris) gain more and more importance for both ecological studies and trials on potential side effects of plant protection products. However, standardized, replicable experimental methods are lacking so far and need further development. For example, initial strength of bumblebee colonies may vary across experiments but may be a key factor in successful colony development under field conditions. Trial duration and termination may impact results on total reproductive output (e.g. number of newly produced queens). In this study commercially reared bumblebee colonies of different initial strengths (number of worker bees) were placed along the field margin of each of six field sites. Each site was nested within one of two seasons and planted with one of two arable crops (Brassica napus and Phacelia tanacetifolia). Each colony was spaced approx. 50 m apart from the next colony, and its development was monitored once a week. While the development of half of the colonies was terminated at the first sighting of newly emerging queens within the nesting area, the other half of the colonies was left to develop further until the end of their natural colony cycle. Newly emerging queens were kept within the colonies using queen excluders. Colonies of different initial strengths showed very similar developmental patterns with medium and large colonies peaking slightly earlier than small colonies. Results may help to develop optimal parameters for standardized field tests.

Brood removal influences fall of Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies

The hygienic removal of Apis mellifera brood infested with Varroa destructor disrupts the reproduction of the infesting mites, and exposes the foundress mites to potential removal from the colony by grooming. Using brood deliberately infested with marked mites, we investigated the association between the removal of mite-infested brood and the removal of exposed foundress mites in Italian (IHB) and Russian honey bee (RHB) colonies. Our results showed that RHB colonies removed more mite-infested brood in significantly less time (average = 87.9 ± 2.0% for 2.6 ± 0.1 days) than IHB colonies (average = 61.9 ± 7.3% for 3.2 ± 0.1 days or 19.3% per day). For the inoculated brood that was not removed, RHB colonies had lower proportions of brood cells containing: (a) live marked mites regardless of reproductive status (RHB = 4.4 ± 1.3%; IHB = 17.7 ± 5.9%); (b) dead marked mites (RHB = 1.1 ± 0.5%; IHB = 7.1 ± 2.2%); (c) lost introduced marked mites (RHB = 6.6 ± 1.6%; IHB = 13.3 ± 2.8%); and (d) reproductive marked mites (RHB = 8.3 ± 6.3%; IHB = 23.8 ± 6.9%) than IHB colonies did. These observations suggest that RHB colonies indiscriminately remove mite-infested brood regardless of mite status. Regarding trapped mites (i.e., those found below a modified queen excluder), the number of mite-infested brood cells removed positively correlated with the number of mites that were trapped in both honey bee stocks. The majority of the trapped mites fell during the first three days post mite inoculation, which coincided with the highest rates of brood removal. The highest proportions of trapped gravid foundress mites were also recorded during this time, when host bees were early in their development. The comparatively strong and rapid hygienic response of RHB to mite-infested brood and the associated removal of infesting foundresses are probably parts of a suite of factors responsible for suppressing V. destructor populations in RHB colonies.

Úspěšné přijetí matky ve včelstvu s matkou

One of the actual elementary biologic principles of the introduction of queen is that the recipient co­lo­ny has to be queenless. We accidentally found that a queen can be accepted also in queenright co­lo­ny with using of the queen excluder. Therefore, we conducted two experiments with the introduction of queen in queenright colony.Under defined conditions of the experiment and with application of the queen excluder as a separator of queens we successfully introduced queen in the queenright colony. This result is discussed in relation to the general principle that a queen should be introduced only in a queenless colony. It is possible that there are some exceptions advert to the existence of some unknown biologic patterns in the honey bee biology and pheromones.

New applications for protecting honeybee, Apis mellifera L., colonies from attacking the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis Fab.)

The efficiency of three modifications on hive entrance to protect honeybee colonies from the serious damage occurred by the predatory hornet, Vespa orientalis Fab. Was investigated at apiary in Giza region during hornet active season, 2012. These modifications were large or small cuboid queen excluder (LCQE & SCQE, respectively) and a piece of queen excluder (QE) covered wintering entrance of the hive door, in comparison with unprotected colonies, (control). The numbers of predatory hornets attack SCQE and control colonies was significantly higher (6.8 & 6.7 hornets/col./3 min., respectively) than those attacking colonies supplied with LCQE and winter hole with QE, (6.0 & 6.3 hornets/col./3 min., respectively). The peak of hornet onslaught recorded during October and September, (9.6 & 8.8 hornets/col./3 min., respectively). Unprotected colonies were significantly lost the highest number of bees by predation, (2.39 bees/col./3 min.) in contrast with LCQE and SCQE (0.27 & 0.29 bees/col./3 min.) treatments. Sever attack resulted in extermination of control colonies within three weeks of September and colonies of QE through October. Good success was attained using LCQE and SCQE stabled over hive entrance which resulted in 100 % survival.

Effect of queen excluders on ovary activation in workers of the Eastern honeybee Apis cerana

Honeybee workers generally refrain from personal reproduction when a queen is present. Workers discern the presence and fecundity of the queen via volatile pheromones that permeate throughout the colony. Pheromones are emitted both by the queen herself and by the brood that she produces. If pheromone production is disrupted, some workers initiate egg laying. The Eastern honeybee Apis cerana is unusual in that workers have high levels of ovary activation even in the presence of a queen. To investigate the effect of disruption to pheromone dispersal, we fitted three A. cerana colonies with vertical queen excluders, thus splitting the colonies into a half containing a queen and a half without a queen. We regularly sampled adult workers from both sides of the excluder for 3 weeks. We also sampled workers from three control colonies that did not contain excluders. We found a significant increase in worker ovary activation 3 days after addition of excluders, suggesting that the reduced dispersal of pheromones allowed some workers to become reproductively active. Workers attempted to rear queen cells on the queenless halves of all three colonies. Queen-rearing ceased on day 9, at which time no queen-laid brood remained on the queenless halves of the colonies. Ovary activation rates continued to climb until day 9 and then gradually began to decline. With the exception of one egg, we did not observe worker-laid brood on the queenless side of the colonies, suggesting that workers continued policing eggs laid by workers. We conclude that if the distribution of brood pheromone is impeded, workers prepare to supersede their queen, accompanied by high levels of worker ovary activation. However, because workers continue to police each other, high ovary activation does not result in worker-produced drones.

Social influences on body size and developmental time in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

In many social insects, including bumblebees, the division of labor between workers relates to body size, but little is known about the factors influencing larval development and final size. We confirmed and extend the evidence that in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris the adult bee body size is positively correlated with colony age. We next performed cross-fostering experiments in which eggs were switched between incipient (before worker emergence) and later stage colonies with workers. The introduced eggs developed into adults similar in size to their unrelated nestmates and not to their same-age full sisters developing in their mother colony. Detailed observations revealed that brood tending by the queen decreases, but does not cease, in young colonies with workers. We next showed that both worker number and the queen presence influenced the final size of the developing brood, but only the queen influence was mediated by shortening developmental time. In colonies separated by a queen excluder, brood developmental time was shorter in the queenright compartment. These findings suggest that differences in body size are regulated by the brood interactions with the queen and workers, and not by factors inside the eggs that could vary along with colony development. Finally, we developed a model showing that the typical increase in worker number and the decrease in brood contact with the queen can account for the typical increase in body size. Similar self-organized social regulation of brood development may contribute to the optimization of growth and reproduction in additional social insects.