Longevidade e produção de abelhas rainhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) em colmeias sob condições de sol e sombra no Semiárido do Nordeste brasileiro

• Ano de defesa: 2015
• Autor(a) principal: Santos, Ricardo Gonçalves
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido; Brasil; UFERSA; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal
• Palavras-chave em Português: Apis mellifera; Produção de rainhas; Longevidade; Condições ambientais; Queen production; Longevity; Environmental conditions; CNPQ::CIENCIAS AGRARIAS::MEDICINA VETERINARIA
• Link de acesso: https://repositorio.ufersa.edu.br/handle/tede/697

The queen bee (Apis mellifera L.) is of critical importance in the development of a colony, but its production, life cycle and performance over lifespan can be affected by environmental factors, so that the characteristics of these vary depending on soil and weather conditions of the local that they inhabit. However, it is assumed that appropriate management methods can mitigate the negative effects caused by adverse environmental conditions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different conditions (bee colonies installed in sun and shade) in the production process of Africanized queens Apis mellifera, as well as in the performance and longevity of these queens in semiarid environment. 20 hives of Langstroth model were used in the experimental conditions cited. For the production of queens, were used 10 orphaned colonies (5 in the sun and 5 in the shade), and were evaluated the percentage of accepted larvae, the ontogenetic development and the emergency success rate of queens created in both conditions. To evaluate the longevity, sister queens of the same age were introduced in hives Langstroth installed with about 30.000 workers directly under the sun and in the shade, with 5 hives in each experimental condition. The monitored queens had the development of their colonies recorded in loco every 15 days, making estimates through mapping of the occupied area with eggs, brood, pollen and honey in the combs, until the queens died. Data were statistically analyzed by comparing the means by T-Student test at 5% probability. The results showed that the percentage of accepted larvae in colonies in the shade (68.82 ± 17.03%) was significantly greater than the percentage of accepted larvae in colonies in the sun (52.13 ± 16.29%). The weight gain of the queens was also higher when they were developed in shaded area, and the differences were detected from the ninth day of ontogenetic development, when individuals were at the end of the larval stage. After this phase, the weight of the individuals in both groups began to drop (until emergence of cell cups), but the queens of the shadow emerged on average 31 mg heavier than the queens of colonies installed in the sun. However, the emergence rate of the queens maintained in the sun (86.48%) and shadow (92.07%) was not statistically significant at 5% level. Some queens remain reproductively active and no significant difference was shown between partial results of the longevity, however, a longer life in the queens of hives under shade conditions (215 ± 29.4 days) was observed compared with queens of hives exposed to the sun (183 ± 46.2 days). As far as three queens (2 in the shade and 1 in the sun) of both groups are still alive the difference between the groups can be increased. However, due the harsh conditions of the semiarid Caatinga (light, temperatures, drought and poor food conditions) the queen’s longevity was seriously affected and new studies should be done for better conclusion. The development of the colonies was also positively influenced by shading condition, and the brood area was the main favored variable. It is concluded that the installation of hives in shaded area softens the harsh conditions of the Semiarid Caatinga, providing better performance of the colonies and queens, as well as greater efficiency in the scientific creation process of the Apis mellifera queens