الفهرس 
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Abstract
Studying the effect of certain factors on natural mating quality of the honeybee virgin queens was achieved in the apiary of faculty of Agricalture, AlAzhar University Assiut. The present study was conducted through two successive seasons (between years2003 and 2005).
Virgin queens and bee colonies of three races of the honeybee and their hybrids were used in the present study as follows:-
1- Carniolan honeybees, Apis mellifera carnica.
2- Italian honeybees, Apis mellifera ligustica .
3- Egyptian honeybees, Apis mellifera lamarckii.
4- First hybrid Carniolan bees.
5- First hybrid Italian bees.
Six experiments were done during the period of the study in years2003 to 2005 as follows:-
1- Effect of seasonal variation on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating quality and post-mating period of certain races of honeybee virgin queens and their hybrids.
2- Effect of receiver bee colony race on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating ability and post-mating period of the introduced first hybrid Carniolan honeybee virgin queens.
3- Effect of introducing methods on acceptance of the virgin honeybee queens (first hybrid Carniolan) in colonies.
4- Effect of presence and stage of brood of receiver colonies on the acceptance, pre-mating period, mating ability and post-mating period of honeybee virgin queens (first hybrid Carniolan).
5- Effect level of the receiver colonies strength on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating ability and post-mating period of honeybee virgin queens (first hybrid Carniolan).
6- Effect of weather factors on mating success of the honeybee virgin queens (first hybrid Carniolan).
1. Effect of seasonal variations on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating quality and post-mating period of certain races of honeybee virgin queens and their hybrids.
Thirty virgin queens of each tested race of the honeybee mentioned above were used. The selected virgin queens were introduced to queenless colonies of the first hybrid Carniolan honeybees. Introduction of the tested virgin queens was done in three seasons spring, summer and autumn, of each year of the study acceptance, pre-mating period, mating success and Post-mating period. Spermathecal content and brood production were determined for the introduced queens. Measurements of these parameters were as the following:-
1.1 Spring:
In year2003, Italian honeybee virgin queens were accepted in a highest rate (93.33%), followed by both the first hybrid Italian and Carniolan virgin queens (each of them 86.66%).
At the same time bees accepted the first hybrid Carniolan virgin queens by the rate of 80% in comparison to 70% for Egyptian virgin queens. Variation between last two Figures statistically significant. In year 2004 the same trend was observed. Regarding pre-mating period of the introduced virgin queens results of year 2003 indicated that no significant differences among periods existed by virgin queens of different tested races except Egyptian ones. They need 6.39 to 6.44 days in an average to be ready for mating, however Egyptian virgin queen required less significant period. They need only 5.6 days.
In year 2004 the range of pre-mating period for different tested queens was extended between 5.46 to 6.34 days without significant differences among them.
Concerning mating ability of the experimental queens Italian virgin queens in 2003 season succeeded in mating by the highest rate 78.51% which surpass significantly than mating success percentages of the Egyptian queens which showed 62.10%. In year 2004, the first hybrid Italian virgin queen recorded the highest percentage of mating success (81.47%) however Egyptian queens were always associated with the least mating success percentage (63.69%). On the other hand measurement the post-mating period of the mated queens in 2003 revealed that the first hybrid Italian queens required the longest period (4.04 days) after mating to start egg laying while these periods were 3.66, 3.42 and 2.84 days for Italian, Egyptian and the first hybrid Carniolan queens, respectively. Results of year 2004 related the same parameter carried the same trend.
Dissecting number of the mated queens of each tested race and counting their spermathecal content of sperms in 2003 showed that Carniolan queens contained the highest number of sperms (5.51 million/queen) which surpass significantly the sperm content of queens related to other tested queens. The sperm content of queens belong to Italian, first hybrid Italian, first hybrid Carniolan and Egyptian bees were, 4.76, 4.68, 4.33 and 2.20 million /queens, respectively. On year 2004, Carniolan and Italian queens were on the top number of spermathecal content of sperms, however, number of sperms in spermatheca of the queens of the other tested races occupied the last mentioned order.
Measurement of the brood area produced by colonies headed by the tested queens showed that colonies of Italian queens produced the largest mean of brood area over the year (299.1 sq. inch / colony / 12 days), followed by those colonies having Carniolan queens (294.5 sq. inch). At the same time colonies of the first hybrid Italian queens produced a moderate area of brood (272.8 sq. inch), while the smallest area of brood (187.6 sq. inch) was recorded for those colonies of Egyptian queens. The same observation was noticed through the next trail (year2004) where colonies of Italian queens produced the highest brood area which superior the amount of brood produced by the colonies headed by the other tested queens.
1.2 Summer
Results of summer 2003 indicated that Italian virgin queens were accepted by the highest rate of 86.67%, while the other tested queens were accepted by the following rates; 83.33, 76.67, 63.33 for Carniolan the first hybrid Italian, both the first hybrid Carniolan and Egyptian virgin queens. Data of summer 2004 confirmed acceptance of the tested virgin queen by the same order.
Observations of pre-mating period of the accepted queens in year 2003 showed no significant differences among different queens belong to the tested races. Pre-mating period of these queens was ranged between 4.91 to 5.81 days. These observation of year 2004 indicated that Egyptian virgin queens should require of a significantly the longest period of 5.29 days in comparison to 4.48 days for Carniolan virgin queens which was considered the shortest pre-mating period.
With respecting mating success of the tested queens, results of year 2003 revealed that the first hybrid Italian queens succeeded in mating by 86.90 %, followed by Italian queens 84.72%, and Egyptian 84.12% with no significant difference among them. Carniolan queens and its first hybrid mated by the rate of 75.92 and 68.25%, respectively. However, results of year 2004 showed that Carniolan queen recorded the highest percentage of mating success (100 %), followed by Italian queen (96.67 %), while the Egyptian queen came in last order (69.83%).
Concerning the post-mating period of the mated queens of different races, results of year 2003 showed that there were no significant differences among the post-mating periods required by different tested queens. These periods extended between 3.58 to 3.99 days. In year 2004 results revealed that Egyptian queens showed need of the significant longest post-mating period (3.18 days), while Carniolan queens need the shortest post-mating period (2.58 days).
With relation to spermathecal content of the mated queens, results of year 2003 showed that Italian queens contained a largest number of sperms (5.62 /million / queen), followed by the first hybrid Italian (4.56 million/queen), and Carniolan queens (4.44 million/queen). The first hybrid Carniolan showed a moderate amount of sperm (4.42 million/queen), in comparison to (2.1 million/queen) for Egyptian queens. The same trend was obtained in year 2004.
Data of brood produced by the colonies having different tested queens in year 2003 showed that colonies contained Italian queens produced the largest areas of brood over the year (447.7, 323.7, 115.3 and 372.5 sq. inch/colony/12 days for summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons. The average brood production over the year was 314.8 sq. inch/colon /12 days.
The colonies having the other tested queens, produced in average of 288.8, 288.1, 281.2 and 204.8 over the year for the colonies with Carniolan, first hybrid Italian, first hybrid Carniolan, and Egyptian queens, respectively.
On the other hand, data of year 2004 showed that colonies having Carniolan queens produced the highest significant brood area of 293.7 sq. inch/colony/12days over a year, in comparison to 168.1 sq. inch / colony /12 days over a year, while the brood areas produced by the other treatments came between them.
1.3 Autumn:
The obtained results in autumn of years 2003 and 2004 indicated that the Italian queens were accepted by the highest rates (86.76 and 93.33%, respectively), while Carniolan virgin queens were accepted by moderate rates (76.67 and 83.33% for years 2003 and 2004, respectively). Egyptian virgin queens were accepted by the lowest level either in year2003 (63.33%) or in year 2004 (56.67%).
Recording the pre-mating periods of tested virgin queens revealed that there were no significant difference among periods required by each of them either in year 2003, or year 2004. They lasted between 5.69 to 5.83 days in year2003 while in year2004 they lasted 5.59 to 6.17days.
Observations on mating ability of the introduced queens in autumn season showed that Italian queens succeeded in mating by the highest rate either in year 2003 (84.72%) or in year 2004 (82.22%), followed by the first hybrid Carniolan (77.38% in year 2003 and 73.21% in year 2004). The lowest percentages of mating success either in year 2003 (63.49%) or in year 2004 (58.89%) were recorded for Egyptian virgin queens.
With concerning to post-mating period of the tested queens results of years 2003 and 2004 indicated that Carniolan queens showed less requirement of time to start egg laying, they need 3.11 and 2.89, days respectively. In the same time Egyptian queens needed the longest Post-mating periods (3.75 days in year 2003 and 3.84days in year 2004). Post-mating periods of the other tested queens came between the above mentioned records.
Counting sperms of the spermatheca of the tested queens showed that data of years 2003 and 2004 showed the same trend of spermathecal content of the tested queens. It could be arranged in the following descending order; Italian, first hybrid Italian, Carniolan, first hybrid Carniolan and Egyptian queens. They produced, in year2003 4.92, 4.54, 4.29, 3.60 and 1.05 million sperm/queens, respectively.
Measurement of brood area produced by the colonies of different tested queens, results showed that colonies having Italian queens maintained the largest area of brood over the year. They produced (311.4 in year2003 and 336.20 sq. inch colony/12days in year2004). The colonies of Egyptian queens produced the smallest areas of the brood. It was 160.5 and 158.9 sq. inch/colony/12 days in years2003 and 2004, respectively.
It was appeared from the results of the present work that, under Assuit region conditions, spring season was the most suitable time for introducing the virgin queens into colonies since they accepted easily, lasted less time in pre-mating period, succeeded in mating by the high rate and collected a large amount of spermatozoa which reflected positively on brood production of their colonies. Summer season came in the second rank, while autumn season came in last. On the other hand Italian virgin queens were the best, followed by first hybrid Italian, then Carniolan and first hybrid Carniolan queens, however, Egyptian virgin queen occupied the lowest levels of most measured characters.
2. Effect of receiver bee colony race on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating ability and post-mating period of the introduced first hybrid Carniolan honeybee virgin queens.
In spring of years 2004 and 2005, the first hybrid virgin queens were individually introduced to honeybee colonies of Carniolan, Italian, Egyptian, first hybrid Carniolan and first hybrid Italian. Results of year 2004 showed that Carniolan bee accepted the highest percentage (96.67%) of the introduced virgin queens, followed by both the first hybrid Carniolan colonies and Italian colonies (93.33%) with insignificant differences among each other. The first hybrid Italian bee colonies accepted a moderate percentage (83.33%) of the introduced virgin queens which differed significantly than last Figures. The lowest significant percentage of the accepted queens was recorded for the Egyptian virgin queens (70.00%). The same levels of acceptance of the introduced queens were noticed in year 2005.
Concerning pre-mating periods of the introduced virgin queens, results of years 2004 and 2005 revealed that there were no significant differences among periods of pre-mating required by the introduced virgin queens received by different bee colonies.
Results of mating ability of the introduced virgin queens, of years 2004 and 2005 confirmed the same trend; Italian bees encouraged the highest percentage (78.88%) of the virgin queens to leave for mating. However, queens introduced to Carniolan bee colonies mated by the lowest percentage of 65.92% in year 2004 and the corresponding percentage of 54.16% was recorded for the receiver colonies of Egyptian bees in year 2005.
Recording post-mating periods of the tested queens showed that queens introduced to Carniolan bees in year 2004 lasted for the shortest period (2.78 days), while the longest period (3.37 days) was recorded for the first hybrid Italian. The same order was noticed in results of year 2005.
The obtained results clearly indicated that introducing the virgin queens to gentle bees (Italian or Carniolan bees) was one of the most successful factors encouraging the high rate of acceptance, help in increasing mating success and effecting affected positively on shorting pre-oviposition period.
3. Effect of introducing methods on acceptance of the virgin honeybee queens (first hybrid Carniolan) in colonies.
At the beginning of spring season of the two successive years of 2004 and 2005, four methods of introducing i.e. half ball cage, half comb cage, Benton cage and direct introducing, were tested. Introducing the first hybrid virgin queens to colonies of the same genotype of bees. Results of year 2004 revealed that the highest percentage of acceptance (96.67%) was noticed with using half comb cage, while applying direct introducing method resulted in significantly the lowest percentage (36.67%) of acceptance of the introduced queens.
Results of year 2005 confirmed the same trend, where using the other methods of introducing resulted in moderate acceptance percentages, which came between the two Figures mentioned above.
4. Effect of presence and stage of brood of receiver colonies on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating success and post-mating period of the introduced honeybee virgin queens.
In the summer of two successive years (2004 and 2005) queens of the first hybrid Carniolan bees were introduced to colonies having different statues of presence and stages of brood (sealed brood, unsealed brood, mixed brood and without brood).
Data of the two years (2004 and 2005) revealed that introducing virgin queens to the colonies have mixed brood resulted in acceptance of the introduced virgin queens was the highest rates (86.67 and 90.00%, respectively). On contrary, introducing virgin queens to colonies having only sealed brood resulted in the lowest acceptance percentages of 66.67 and 63.33 for years 2004 and 2005, respectively. Acceptance percentages of the other treatments showed inter mediate record. Recording pre-mating periods of the introduced virgin queens indicated that the shortest period was mostly associated with introducing queens to the colonies of contained mixed brood. It was 3.06 days in year 2004, and 4.16 days in year 2005. The longest pre-mating period was noticed for queens introduced to colonies having no brood (3.37 days in year 2004). Differences among pre-mating periods of the queens introduced to the colonies of different treatments in year 2005 were statistically not significant. It ranged between 4.06 to 4.39 days.
Determination of mating success percentages of the introduced virgin queens in year 2004 should that although queens introduced to the colonies having mixed brood mated by the highest percentage (84.72%) yet difference among different treatment were not significant. In year 2005, colonies of mixed brood encouraged the introduced queens to mate successfully by the highest significant rate. It was 96.67%, in comparison to 79.63, 73.80, and 65.07 for colonies of unsealed brood, sealed brood and no brood, respectively.
Concerning post-mating periods results of years 2004 and 2005 revealed that introducing queens to colonies of mixed brood helped in shortening the Post-mating periods of the introduced queens. Differences among Post-mating periods of the different treatment were statistically not significant.
These data indicate clearly that introducing virgin queens to colonies having mixed brood may help in increasing of their acceptance, shortening of their pre-oviposion period and pushed them to mate by the highest rate.
5. Effect of receiver colonies strength on acceptance, pre-mating period, mating success and post-mating period of the introduced virgin queens.
The first hybrid Carniolan honeybee virgin queens were introduced individually to one of colonies of different strength level (bees covered 3, 5, 7, and 10 combs) in autumn season of two successive years, 2004 and 2005. Results of years 2004 and 2005 showed the same trend, where the highest acceptance percentages of 96.67 and 93.33%, respectively, were recorded with introducing virgin queens to colonies 3 combs. Colonies of 5 combs occupied the second rank of acceptance (93.33 and 86.67% for years 2004 and 2005, respectively). However introducing virgin queens to colonies of 10 combs resulted in decreasing acceptance level of these queens (53.33 for year 2004 and 56.67% for year 2005).
Concerning pre-mating periods of the introduced queens, no significant difference were found among different treatments either in data of year 2004 or year 2005. Pre-mating period of the introduced queens in year 2004 was extended between 5.41 to 5.82 days, while in 2005 was ranged between 5.60 to 5.91 days.
Recording mating success of the introduced queens, data of year 2004 showed that queens introduced to colonies of 5 combs mated by the highest rate 78.88%, followed by queens introduced to those colonies of 3 combs (75.92%), while the lowest level mating success (62.22%) was associated with those queens introduced to colonies of 10 combs. Data of year 2005 showed the same trend her queens introduced to colonies of 5 comb mated in a highest significant percentage (80.55%).
With regarding to post-mating period of queens of the different treatments, no significant differences were noticed among various treatments either in data of year 2004 or year 2005. The shortest period was that of queens introduced to colonies of 10 combs, while the longest period was found with those queens introduced to colonies of 3 combs.
Data of this trail, may conclude permit us to that introducing virgin queens to small population colonies clearly contribute in increasing of their acceptance rate, and then uniting these colonies or increasing their bee population will results in maximize mating success and minimize their sexual maturity periods.
6. Effect weather factors on mating success of the honeybee virgin queens (first hybrid Carniolan ).
Statistical analysis of the accumulated data of mating success percentages and their relation to weather conditions.
prevailing in that time showed negative insignificant correlation (-0.35) between mating success of bee virgin queens and relative humidity. On the other hand a positive insignificant correlation (0.47) was existed between mating success and prevailing temperature.
Through light of these results, it can be concluded that at temperature of 33.76 0C and 39.78% relative humidity mating success of virgin honeybee queens was in the highest rate (100%). This high percentage of mating success was coincided with nectar flow season in Assuit region.
Conclusion
In view of the results extracted from the present study, it can be concluded that beekeepers can harvest more benefits with well understanding the following evidents:-
1- Under Assuit region conditions, spring season was the most favorable time for introducing the virgin queens to colonies since they were accepted easily, lasted less time in pre-mating period, succeeded in mating by the high rate and collected the largest number of spermatozoa, which reflected positively on brood production
2- Italian virgin queens showed the best results in comparison to the other tested bee races (Carniolan, first hybrid Carniolan, first hybrid Italian and Egyptian)
3- Introducing the virgin queens to gentle bee races
(Italian or Carniolan bees) contribute in increasing acceptance percentages of the introduced queens, mating success and shortening the pre-oviposition period.
4- Using half comb cage for introducing virgin queens result in high acceptance rate of the introduced queens
5- Introducing the virgin queens to colonies having mixed brood (sealed and unsealed brood) lead to high acceptance, leaving to mating in short time and with the high successful rate.
6- Introducing the virgin queens to small population colonies clearly contributed in rising the acceptance rate and then supplying these colonies with more amount of bees well maximize mating ability and minimize their sexual maturity.
7- Preparation of the virgin queens to mat in weather conditions of 33.76 Co average mean temperatures and 39.76% relative humidity, which coincide with nectar flow time, will greatly help in full mating successfulness, in the absence of adverse factors such as bee aeter Merops sp and social wasps Vespa orientalis or bee walf Philanthus abdelkader