Sealed Brood Area Research Articles

IMPACT OF ACARICIDES ON VARROA DESTRUCTOR INFESTATION IN HONEY BEE COLONIES (Apis mellifera L.) AND THEIR HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON HYPOPHARYNGEAL GLANDS

This study aimed to determine the random role of some acaricides, which are the most commonly used in Egypt for controlling Varroa destructor on Hypopharyngeal Glands (HPGs) of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). The acaricides used in this study were Varroakiller®, Menthocaros®, Amitraz®, Varroby®, and formic acid. Results showed that the total number of fallen mites was 53.5, 47, 28.6, 26, and 24.5 for Varroakiller®, Menthocaros®, Amitraz®, Varroby®, and formic acid, respectively, compared to 16 mites in the control group. For sealed worker brood areas (SWBA), the treatments included Varroakiller® (327.98 cm2), formic acid (228.92 cm2), Varroby® (222.25 cm2), Menthocaros® (129.72 cm2), and Amitraz® (101.73 cm2), while the SWBA for control colonies was 44.83 cm2. Histological studies of the HPGs showed that although Varroakiller® effectively controlled Varroa mites and had no direct impact on worker bees or egg-laying areas, it considerably impacted the HPGs, which could ultimately affect the bee colony. Moreover, formic acid recorded a lower number of fallen Varroa with acceptable outcomes for egg-laying areas and sealed workers. This, coupled with the fact that formic acid was deemed the most significant due to its effectiveness over a short period, resulted in a reduction of 100% after 24 days.

Increased Mass-Rearing of Queens in High Royal-Jelly-Producing Honey Bee Colonies (Apis mellifera ligustica) Generates Smaller Queens with Comparable Fecundity

The mass rearing of high-quality queen bees is an essential beekeeping practice for producing new queens to maintain colony productivity. A strain of high royal-jelly-producing bees (RJBs; Apis mellifera ligustica) in China exhibits high potential for the rapid mass rearing of queens. To explore the potential changes in the quality of mass-reared queens, a set of morphometric traits and the sealed brood area were compared between the queens reared from 64 and 320 queen cells in RJB colonies. The increase in the queen cell number was found to induce a slightly but significantly reduced body weight and smaller wing length and thorax width in the reared queens at emergence. However, the ovariole number and sealed brood area, an indicator of the queen fecundity, were not observed to be significantly influenced. With respect to body weight and ovariole number, all the reared queens satisfied the current criteria for high-quality queens. Our findings provide evidence for the efficient mass production of high-quality queens using RJB colonies.

Comparison of pure caucasian, carniolan and native anatolian ecotype honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in the eastern anatolia region with reciprocal F1 hybrids

The aim of this study was to compare specific physiological and behavioral characteristics of A. m. caucasica, A. m. carnica, and native honeybees, as well as reciprocal crosses, within the ecological conditions of East Anatolia (Van province), Turkey. The findings revealed that native honeybees exhibited the highest average sealed brood area and the highest average number of frames with bees. In contrast, the highest average honey yield was observed in the crossbreeding of Carniolan bees with native bees. Significant differences were identified among the groups concerning brood area, the number of bee frames, aggression tendency, and honey yield. The study concluded that Carniolan and Caucasian bees exhibited suboptimal performance outside their native habitats. Nevertheless, Carniolan bees were identified as a viable option for mitigating aggression tendencies and enhancing honey yield in native bee populations.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE QUALITY OF HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera) QUEENS DEVELOPED FROM LARVAE AFTER THE COLLECTION OF ROYAL JELLY

Rearing bee queens is almost done utilizing grafting young larvae while the effects of grafting using old larvae after the collection of royal jelly on the quality of queens are not known. In fact, the production of royal jelly depends on grafting, then discarding the larvae to collect the royal jelly. This study aimed to investigate this point by grafting old larvae after removing them from their original cells without food. Larvae at age about 2 days were grafted into plastic queen cell cups (selection and grafting method or S&G method) leaving royal jelly behind and then resultant queens were compared with naturally reared ones (or NQ). The study showed the absence of significant variations between the queens reared from the two methods in characteristics of queens and cells. Meanwhile, no significant differences were found in regard to the performance of colonies. The colonies with queens from S&G method had slightly higher performance than those with NQ. The study concluded that grafting using old larvae without their original food does not impair the quality of queens. During the production of royal jelly, larvae may be grafted into new cells to continue their normal development instead of discarding them.

Influence of Indian Honey Bees and Other Pollinators on The Yield Improvement of Moringa

A pollinator survey was conducted in the Oddanchatram block of Dindigul district, where moringa is grown on a large scale. Several insect pollinators including honey bees, flies, beetles and butterflies were observed in the moringa ecosystem. The foraging behaviour of A. ceranaindica was increased during 0800 to 0900 h, followed by Amegilla zonata, and Episyrpussp. Working hours were high in A. ceranaindica followed by those of Amegilla zonata, Polistessp., A. dorsata, and Xylocopasp. In terms of handling time, A. ceranaindica spent more time, followed by A. dorsata, Amegilla zonata, and Xylocopasp., while Polistes sp. expended less time. The present study indicated that A. ceranaindica was the most abundant pollinator. Yield parameters viz., fruit length, fruit girth, individual fruit weight, and number of fruits per tree were maximum in bee pollinated than control. The colony growth parameters, viz., sealed honey area, pollen area, sealed brood area, and adult bee population, also developed in bee pollinated field. Therefore, by managing Indian honey bee colonies, we can make money on both moringa and colony yield

Warming Beehives with Solar Energy Stored in Water

This study presents the possibility of utilizing a passive solar system in sunny places, which collects solar energy by using a polyethylene sheet to trap the long-wave thermal radiation and store it in water for warming the internal environment of beehives and its effect on nest temperatures, honey area, pollen area, sealed brood area, and the number of occupied frames. A total of six Langstroth hives containing honeybee colonies of equal strength from the species of hybrid Carniolan are divided into two groups as follows: a control group (untreated hive), and modified beehives that have been treated with the solar energy storage system. The solar energy storage system consists of an insulated wooden drawer located under the beehive's bottom board, containing sealed water bags, and is covered with a polyethylene sheet. Solar energy stored in water is used to reduce the variation of inside air temperatures between daylight and nighttime. The highest values of the honey area, pollen area, sealed brood area, and the number of occupied frames (916 cm2, 842 cm2, 3688 cm2, and 9 frames, respectively) were obtained for the modified beehives at the end of March, while the lowest values (98 cm2, 219 cm2, 911 cm2, and 3 frames, respectively) were recorded for the control groups of beehives at the middle of January. In modified beehives treated with a solar energy storage system, there was a significant rise in hive temperature, honey area, pollen area, sealed brood area, and bee population. So, it is recommended to use the new modification for warming beehives.

Effect of supplementary sugar feeding on colony growth of Asiatic hive bee, Apis cerana indica F.

Honey bees also known as "Angels of Agriculture" are arguably the most vital insects on the planet. Bee nutrition is an important aspect of colony management. Supplementary feeding is essential for maintaining the strength and health of honey bee colonies, especially during dearth periods. Experiments were conducted to evaluate a suitable, cheaper carbohydrate supplement and its effect on the colony growth of the Asiatic hive bee Apis cerana indica. Four different sugar syrup components, viz., sugar, water, milk and glucose, were combined to form seven treatments : T1-Sugar: water (1:1), T2-Sugar: water (1:1) + Glucose (2%),T3- Sugar: water (1:1) + Desi cow’s milk (2%),T4- Sugar + water (2:1), T5- Sugar + water (2:1) + Glucose (2%) ,T6- Sugar + water (2:1) + Desi cow’s milk (2%) and T7-Control and evaluated to select honey bee colonies . Among the different sugar syrup feeding treatments, the colonies fed with T2 - Sugar: water (1:1) + Glucose (2%) had a profound effect within a month and the colonies recorded an increase in sealed brood area from 175.66 cm2 to 425.00 cm2, honey store area from 49.00 cm2 to 130.33 cm2, pollen store area from 47. 33 cm2 to 125.33 cm2, adult bee population from 4318.66 bees/colony to 4933.33 bees/colony. The work is new to A. cerana indica. Many of their bee colonies suffer from poor nutrition and absconding during the dearth period. The present study will help the beekeeping farmers maintain these Asiatic honey bee colonies during the starved period and will be useful in income generation.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera jemenitica) colony performance and queen fecundity in response to different nutritional practices

Honey bee colony nutritional dynamics depend on the availability of floral resources throughout a countryside with varying forage circumstances. Few studies quantify the queen fecundity and colony performance about certain management approaches on a broad scale. The present study was conducted to investigate the queen bee fecundity and various colony performance parameters in response to different nutritional practices, i.e., Group-I, supplied with sucrose solution (1:1; w/v), Group-II, provided with locally available commercial pollen substitute, Group-III, supplied with both sucrose solution + locally available commercial pollen substitute, and Group-IV without any sugar solution and pollen substitute. Our results demonstrated that eggs laid by queen bees were significantly higher (1241.83 ± 46.24) in Group-III than in other groups over the time of observations. Similarly, a significant difference was noticed in the mean sealed worker brood area and honey store area between the different groups of management practices. Both, the max mean sealed worker brood area (2153.53 ± 29.18 cm2) and max mean honey store area (1713.33 ± 12.06 cm2) were observed in Group-III while, the mini mean sealed worker brood area (1066.53 ± 20.18 cm2) and mini mean honey store area (1058.86 ± 4.07 cm2) were observed in Group-IV. In contrast, a non-significant difference was observed in pollen stores between Group-II and Group-III (p > 0.005). Current findings add to our understanding of the mechanisms that underpin large-scale controlled colony performance when the natural pollens resources are insufficient.

Effect of Protein Supplementation in the Bee Apis mellifera L. Exposed to the Agrochemical Fipronil

Inadequate quantity and quality of proteins in honey bee diet can cause weakening of their colonies and damage their resistance to agrochemical contamination, such as fipronil, which is highly toxic to bees. Thus, we tested the hypothesis if protein supplementation would improve longevity and locomotion of honeybees exposed to fipronil pesticide. Colonies of Apis mellifera Africanized were distributed into Control Group without protein supplementation and Supplemented Group with 25% crude protein provided as a paste form at 100 g per week. After four weeks, frames with sealed brood were removed and kept in an incubator until the emergence of worker bees, which were marked, returned to their hives and recaptured six days later to measure protein concentration in the hemolymph. The bee population development was measured by evaluating frames containing the queen’s oviposition from each colony. Also, nursing bees were recaptured exposed by contact to fipronil LD50% (0.009 ± 0.003 μg/bee), and the longevity and motor activity were measured. The results showed that the bee swarms protein supplementation promoted a significant increase in the sealed brood area. However, it did not promote changes in the protein content of the hemolymph. Protein supplementation of bee swarms did not influence the survival of bees exposed to fipronil in the locomotion tests; however, fipronil was toxic to bees and promoted changes in the locomotion of bees.

Seasonal variations of colony activities linked to morphometric and glands characterizations of hybrid Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) workers

ObjectivesThe activity and productivity of the honey bee colony depend upon many factors operating simultaneously and reacts to some environmental conditions. We aimed to study the morphometric characteristics and glands development of nurse and forager of hybrid Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) workers in relation to activities of the colony during the different seasons. MethodsThe study was conducted during spring, summer, fall, then winter in 2020/2021. Ten colonies of hybrid Carniolan honey bees, every colony with about 14,000 bees, were utilizedz. The seasonal variations of foraging activity, hoarded pollen area, and sealed brood area were determined. Also, the body weight, some morphometric characteristics, and development of glands of nurses and foragers bees were measured. Results and conclusionsThe highest numbers of foragers and pollen foragers/colony/min., stored pollen area, and worker sealed brood area were recorded in May. Measurements of nurses reared during spring were larger than nurses and foragers of other seasons for body weight, mandibular and hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs), length and width of the 2nd wax mirror. The highest proboscis and corbicula lengths were found in foragers reared during spring, without significant differences between worker castes. It can be concluded that the performance of the colony, morphometric characteristics, and development of glands were dependent on the time of the year. Beekeepers in Kafrelsheikh province and similar environmental condition areas should provide the colonies with pollen substitutes or supplements during April, June, and October to February to maintain the strength of the colonies.

Controlling Varroa destructor Infesting Honey Bee Apis mellifera using Essential Oils as Diet Supplements and as Impregnated Paper

The results showed that all the evaluated supplementary diets were found to be accepted by the bees. Colonies fed on the supplementary diets mixed with different essential oils were found to have more individual bees, increased values of sealed brood area, more number of frames covered with bees and encouraged queens to lay more eggs than the controlled colonies. Diet [A] which has been mixed with mint oil proved to be better to be offered to bees during winter followed by diets [C], [B] and [D]. Feeding on diet [A] gave the highest means of sealed brood area (1348.0±13.93 inch2), number of eggs/queen/day (1195.64±12.35 eggs) and number of frames covered with bee (9.0±0.00 frames/hive) in winter season of 2019/ 2020. The fallen mites increased in November when the colonies fed on diet (A) & (B) recording high mean numbers of 176.0 & 201.0 mites (effectiveness= 80.11 & 80.33% ) (2019 season) and 201.0 & 161.0 mites (effectiveness= 87.06 & 83.85% ) (2020 season), respectively. Thyme oil impregnated papers was proved to be more effective during February of both seasons recording effectiveness of 77.84 and 83.95%, followed by mint oil (75.16 and 81.37%, respectively), while mustard oil impregnated papers was proved to be the least effective. Residues of the evaluated essential oils in honey were absent and that because these compounds quickly decreased due to their volatility, thus there cannot be any food safety risk for the consumer.

ECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF Vespula. Germanica

Vespula germanica ( German wasp) is considered a dangerous pest that attacks bees and orchards, and its sting harmful to humans , found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, Khalaf was recorded in Iraq in 1958, it was limited to registration within the Iraqi insects fauna only, and no any biological or environmental studies in Iraq. Therefore, study aimed for understanding of some aspects of the insect. During three years, 2018-2019- and 2020, field survey in different fields in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, collected 27 nests to investigate several colony characteristics. Our study showed the size of mature nests is correlated to number of individuals produced. observed that the German hornet builds its nests in different places as on trees and shrubs, on roofs of houses , buildings, animal pens, poultry fields, and near water sources. Queen begins to appear at beginning of May, workers at beginning of July, as for the males and virgins, they appeared in October. And all members cast die in winter except newly fertilized queens remain, who hibernate to next season. Showed the activity of workers increases with the progression of the hours of the day and that their highest activity is during the hour (9-11) in the morning, at rate 100 wasps/hour. seasonal activity starts from May to November, and highest activity recording during July, August, and September. The highest average of sealed brood area 3.11inch during July , highest average number of hexagonal eyes 91 eyes/nest in October.

Plant-based supplement containing B-complex vitamins can improve bee health and increase colony performance

It is common knowledge that nutritive stress resulting from decreased diversity and quality of food, pollution of food sources and beekeeping errors may lead to increased susceptibility of bees to pathogens and pesticides. The dearth of adequate food is frequently compensated with supplements. Thus, this research was aimed to study the effects of the plant-based supplement B + on colony strength (assessed according to open and sealed brood area, honey and pollen/bee bread reserves, and the number of adult bees). In addition, Nosema ceranae spores and viruses were quantified and the level of infestation with Varroa destructor assessed. The experiment was conducted in late summer and early spring. In colonies which were given B + in feed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the parameters of colony strength were noticed in comparison to the control (colonies fed on sugar syrup). Moreover, it was proven that the bees from these colonies had significantly lower (p < 0.05) N. ceranae spore counts, and acute bee paralysis, deformed wing and sacbrood virus loads. Our results suggest that the addition of B + supplement to the colonies provide them with nutrients, contribute to their strengthening, might prevent nutritive stress and increase the success of bees in combating pathogens.

THE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL AND AROMATIC PLANT EXTRACTS ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HONEYBEE (APIS MELLIFERA L.) COLONIES

In this study, the effects of extracts obtained from medicinal and aromatic plants added to syrups used to feeding honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies on some physiological characteristics of colonies were investigated. The experiment was carried out on 6 groups of 5 colonies. These groups are syrup (S), syrup + Urtica dioica (SU), Syrup + Melissa officinalis (SM), Syrup + Hypericum perforatum (SH), Syrup + Achillea millefolium (SA) and syrup + Thymus serpyllum (ST). As a result of the research, the sealed brood area data were determined as 3013.24±1939.26, 3107.00±2060.42, 3270.81±2194.80, 3091.20±1962.69, 3273.90±2095.49 and 3613.06±2348.27 cm2 in S, SU, SM, SH, SA, ST groups, respectively. When we compare the honey yields of the experimental groups, according to group S, SU increased by 18.48%, SM 43.10%, SH 16.04%, SA 27.35% and ST 53.86%. Therefore, syrup + medicinal and aromatic plant extract mixture given to honey bee colonies may have a positive effect on colony development and honey yield.

Influence of winter feeding on colony development and the antioxidant system of the honey bee, Apis mellifera

The effects of supplementary feeding (artificial diet cake + sucrose syrup supplemented with vitamin C) for different periods (feeding for 12, 15 and 18 weeks) on colony development, protein content and antioxidant system in newly emerged workers were investigated from October to March for two consecutive beekeeping seasons. Sugar syrup was used as the control. The results revealed that there was a marked increase in colony growth parameters (sealed brood areas and adult bee population sizes) in colonies provided with supplemental diet for different periods compared to control colonies. Moreover, colonies fed longest (feeding for 18 weeks) recorded significantly higher sealed brood areas and adult bee population sizes in comparison to other treatment groups. Also, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes together with levels of glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in newly emerged honey bee workers sampled from colonies fed supplemental diet for different periods and control group. There was a clear improvement in the antioxidant system in bee colonies that were provided with supplemental diet for 18 weeks compared to other treatments and control ones. This suggests that honey bee workers supplemented with artificial feeding during the winter season possess mechanisms that reduce their oxidative stress. Together, our results suggest that supplemental winter feeding for 18 weeks (from 1 November to 11 March) has the potential to improve colony development and health during overwintering, a period of elevated colony losses.

Impacts of new artificial diets on activity and strength development of Apis mellifera honey bee colonies

One of the chronic problems that pose a serious threat for honey beesˈ continuity and survival is pollen and nectar deficiency caused by annual weather fluctuations. The current study aims to find an effective solution for this problem by providing honey bee colonies with diets characterized by appropriate cost, nutritional rich value, palatability and positive impacts on various biological activities. Three new artificial diets were prepared, diet W: based on wheat germ, diet S: based on soya beans and diet M: based on a mixture of equal proportions of wheat germ and soya beans. In the current study, several investigations have been performed including consumption rates of examined diets, sealed worker brood, stored honey areas, coloniesˈ strengths and pollen grainsˈ weights. Outstanding palatability rates were reported for examined diets, especially for diet S. Moreover, distinguished impacts for all investigated diets have been recorded by fed colonies, including sealed brood areas, produced honey areas, population densities and collected pollen. Consequently, the current study highly recommend diets W, S and M to be applied in apiaries due to their prominent results related to activity and strength development of honey bee colonies.

English

In this study, the effectiveness of combining various biotechnical methods with thymol was investigated against the mite, Varroa destructor during late summer. Experimental colonies were randomly selected and six study groups were formed with nine colonies in each group. Experimental colonies were created as follows: colonies of renewed queen bees (RQ); colonies in which the queen is trapped on one comb, but worker bees can come and go to carry out their duties (CT); colonies in which ten grams of powdered thymol was added to 90 g of the bee cake, and 100 g of the bee cake with thymol was applied to the colonies (TY); colonies in which the requeen method plus the thymol method were used (RQ+TY); colonies in which the comb trapping method plus the thymol method were used (CT+TY); and untreated control colonies (CC). During the late summer period, the mite infestation level, sealed brood areas, bee population, and effectiveness of applications were determined in the groups. There was no significant difference in the infestation rate, sealed brood areas, and bee populations in the treatment groups before brood interruption. The efficacy of the requeen method, the comb trapping method, the thymol method, the requeen plus thymol method, and comb trapping plus other groups against V. destructor infestation were 40.23, 39.76, 80.45, 98.28 and 97.93%, respectively. These results showed that combining biotechnical methods with thymol is a safe, easy and effective alternative to late summer therapy against V. destructor. Key words: Comb trapping, honey bee, requeening, thymol, Varroa destructor. &nbsp

Patterns of short- and long-term responses of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony to changes in its internal environment

Management of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony for honey production and pollination of crops includes the manipulation of its internal environment. It is not yet understood how the colony might respond to such manipulations in the short- (within four or five days post-treatment) and long-term (after 21 days post-treatment) and whether the once generated short-term response persists into the long-term. Five internal parameters (unsealed and sealed brood, pollen and honey area and colony strength) of the honey bee colony were manipulated and the patterns of resulting short- and long-term colony responses were studied. In the short-term, the honey bee colony showed a significant increase in pollen foraging and a decrease in nectar foraging following an increase in unsealed brood and honey stores; a significant decrease in pollen foraging and an increase in nectar foraging following an increase in pollen stores; and a significant increase in nectar foraging and no change in pollen foraging following an increase in colony strength. However, an increase in sealed brood did not cause any change in the colony foraging patterns. Majority of the short-term responses did not persist for long and wore off with the passage of time. Therefore, the patterns of the long-term responses were different from the short-term responses. In the long-term, only some responses were ‘expected and similar to the short-term responses'; some were ‘unexpected and different from short-term responses'; many were ‘new (previously not reported) and expected'; and some others were ‘new and unexpected'. The study reveals that knowledge of short-term responses would be helpful in devising management strategies to urgently stimulate a colony for nectar or pollen foraging. However, the results show that the short-term responses may or may not persist for long and the colony may need a fresh stimulus to sustain the desired response into long-term. Key words: Apis mellifera, brood, colony, foraging, honey, honey bee, nectar, pollen, pollination.

EVALUATION OF CARNIOLAN HONEY BEE COLONIES FED ON ARTIFICIAL DIETS UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITION

The present study was carried out in the farm of the Department of plant Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of feeding Carniolan honey bee on different supplementation on venom amounts collected and some biological activities under North Sinai conditions. Results indicated that pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest bee venom weight (0.1631 and 0.2106 mg/col.) during the spring season of 2015 and 2016 years, respectively. However, the lowest bee venom weight (0.0811 and 0.0692 mg/col.) was observed in the control diets during the spring season of 2015 and 2016 years, respectively. Results indicated that pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest bee venom weight (0.1724 and 0.1567 col.) during the summer season of 2015 and 2016 years, respectively. Pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest bee venom weight (0.0924 and 0.0653 col.) during the autumn season of 2015 and 2016 years, respectively. Results revealed pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest bee venom weight (0.1515 and 0.1544 mg/col.) during 2015 and 2016 years, respectively compared with other treatments. Results of the interaction between protein nutrition and seasons on bee venom weight indicated that honeybees fed pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest bee venom weight (0.1515 and 0.1544 mg/col.) during 2015 and 2016 years, respectively compared with other treatments. Pollen grains diet significantly recorded the highest honey stored area, sealed brood area and pollen stored area (746, 777.5 and 106.3 inch²/colony) during spring season of 2015 year, respectively and (987.8, 593.6 and 140.8 inch²/colony) in the 2016, respectively. Results revealed that the bee colonies fed pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest honey stored area, sealed brood area and pollen stored area (878.6, 390.4and 123.4 inch²/colony) during summer season of 2015 years, respectively and (1233.73, 525.3 and 118.6 inch²/colony) in the 2016, respectively. Results indicated that the bee colonies fed pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest honey stored area, sealed brood area and pollen stored area (504.3, 145.8 and 67 inch²/colony) during autumn season of 2015 years, respectively and (825..8, 363.8 and 363.8 inch²/colony) in the 2016, respectively. Results revealed that the bee colonies fed pollen grains diet significantly (P≤0.05) recorded the highest honey stored area, sealed brood area and pollen stored area (731.4, 427.7 and 102.5 inch²/colony) in the 2015 years, respectively and (1024.2, 595.2 and 111 inch²/colony) in the 2016, respectively. The data for the interaction between protein nutrition and seasons biological activities indicated that, the bee colonies fed pollen grains diet in spring, seasons significantly recorded the highest honey stored area, sealed brood area and pollen stored area (746.8, 593.6 and 106.3 inch²/colony) in the 2015 years, respectively and (987.8, 777.5 and 140.8 inch²/colony) in the 2016, respectively.

Factors affecting the quality of mated honey bee queens stored for different periods in queen-right bank colonies. Effect of cage level and position on holding frame

The effect of storage cage level (upper or lower) and its position (peripheral or middle positions) on weight, survival rate and egg laying capacity of honey bee queens stored in queen-right colonies for various storage periods was studied. Storing mated queens in this way had a significant effect on their weight after 75 days of storage. The means of queen weight were 174.9 and 167.4 mg for the upper and lower strips, respectively showing the superiority of the upper one. A significant increase in the mean weight of queens stored in the middle position (172.5 mg) was noticed comparing to peripheral ones (169.8 mg). All the stored queens had significantly greater weight than their original weight before storage during the different periods of experiment. There were significant differences in the survival rate of mated queens stored in different levels, as the mean survival rate of queens stored in the upper strip (69.3%) was higher than the survival rate of mated queens stored in the lower one (60.1%). The queens stored in middle position attained a significantly higher survival rate (70.7%), than those stored in peripheral ones (58.7%).The overall survival rate was negatively influenced with the increase of storing period. In respect of egg laying capacity measured as sealed worker brood area, queens stored for 45 days produced a significantly larger sealed brood area (875.5 cm2) than that produced by queens stored for 75 days (843.2 cm2).