Avaliação de rainhas Africanizadas Apis mellifera selecionadas visando a produção de mel

Abstract

The present work aimed at evaluating some reproductive aspects of Africanized honey bee queens reared in Northeastern Brazil. The experiment was undertaken at Alagoas Federal University, from September 2010 until January 2011. The apiary was located at the following geographic coordinates: latitude 9º 27´ 54, 8’’ S and longitude 35º 49´ 59, 7” W. Twenty eight queens were reared using Doolittle’s method and naturally mated. The percentage of grafted larvae accepted, the number of emerged virgin queens, queen´s weight at birth and the percentage of properly mated queens were assessed. The performance of the queens was evaluated by the time elapsed to transfer the colonies from the mating fiveframe nuclei to full size Langstroth hives. Colony development was measured monthly by weighing the hives and mapping food and brood areas using Al-Tikrity´s method. Queen characteristics and production records were correlated. 66 % percent of the grafted larvae were accepted. Virgin queen’s birth rated was 84 %. The average weight of the virgins at birth was 170 mg. 53 % of the virgins were properly mated and begun to lay. 65 days was the average time needed to develop the colony and transfer it to full size hives. A significant and negative correlation was found between birth weight and the time elapsed to transfer the colonies to full size hives. A positive correlation was found between queen´s oviposition and the area occupied with food, nectar as well as pollen. As a consequence an increase in the brood area was observed. Despite the fact that some authors suggest that good queens have to be heavier (>180 mg) than the ones obtained in present study, our queens have shown very good laying characteristics and the development of the colony can be considered good for the region.