Abstract

PEREZ HERNANDEZ, Anisley  and  DEMEDIO LORENZO, Jorge. Evaluation of the hygienic behavior in honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) by the punch method with two instruments. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2014, vol.36, n.3, pp.170-177. ISSN 0253-570X.

Beekeeping is a small livestock with significant contribution to the economy and environment. For the bees (Apis mellifera) the hygienic behavior is a mechanism of natural resistance against diseases whose variability and heritability qualify it as a basic trait in breeding programs. However, conventional evaluation tools require time waste which hinders their use. In this work, the evaluation of this mechanism is performed in a Breeding Center of Queen Bees by the punch method, using classical needle (instrument 1) and instrument 2, consisting of 100 needles inserted into an acrylic base, patented by the authors (DL68 Invention 07/10/2011). Fifteen Langstroth hives were worked during January-July, 2012. Two honey combs with brood 16-17 days (pink-eyed pupae) were taken from the center of the brood chamber, and an area of 100 cells/two honeyscombs/hive was selected with one of the instruments in each honeycombs. In the area selected, the cells to kill the pupae were punctured and the percentage of cleaned cells was determined at 24 hours. The apiary showed mean values of 90.3% hygienic behavior using instrument 1 and 92.5% with instrument 2, without significant differences. Saving time was 85 ± 5% with instrument 2 without the tedium performing 1500 punctures only against 15 actions.

Keywords : Apis mellifera; hygienic behavior.

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