الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was carried out in Sultanate of Oman to provide a basic knowledge of current status of honeybee in different parts of Sultanate of Oman to evaluate the prospects of beekeeping in the country. Trials of the study were conducted on the parasitic flies of honeybee through two successive years 2014 / 2015 and 2015 / 2016.
5.1. Survey of the parasitic flies:
This investigation was conducted on Sultanate of Omani honeybee (Apis mellifera jemenitica) where 732 samples of bees were collected from 61 wlaiat that belong to 11 Governorates of Sultanate of Oman in the period from January to December 2015. Each sample represented one apiary and contained at least 30 foragers and another 30 of housed bees where examined individually searching of dipteran larvae by stereoscopic microscope. The infestation of honeybee with the fly worms were recorded in five Governorates out of the eleven examined. They were Al Batinah South (66.7%), Muscat (16.7%), Ad Dakhiliyah (87.5%), Ad Dhahirah (100%) and Al Batinah North (66.7%).
5.2. Identification of the parasitic flies:
Samples of creeped bees which put in jars were fed and kept in incubator at 30 oC and 70% of R.H. for three days. The parasitic larvae of the flies were emerged and pupated in the sand of the jar floor. The adult flies which emerged in the laboratory were preserved in alcohol 70% and sent for identification in the Lander Institute Für Bienkune Hoden Neuendorf (Prof. Dr. Kaspar Bienfeld and Prof. Tomas Pape). The flies were identified as Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen).
5.3. Infestation percent of the parasitic fly Senotainia tricuspis:
Infestation percentages of honeybee colonies by Senotainia fly were determined in eight apiaries of Al Rustaq wlaia, Al Batinah South Governorate.
Samples of bees were collected weekly from January till June of 2015 and 2016 seasons. The maximum percent of infestation (96.66%) was calculated in March 2015, thereafter; the infestation was decreased gradually until disappeared in June. The same trend was noticed in 2016. Statistically, high significant differences between infestation percent and months were noticed. Weather factors showed great effect on the infestation. Highly significant negative correlations were recorded with temperature and wind and positive with relative humidity and rain fall in the two studied seasons.
5.4. Natural methods of controlling Senotainia fly:
5.4.1. Sticky traps:
This trail was done using blue and yellow sticky traps in 8 apiaries in Al Rustaq, Al Batinah South during the periods extended from January till June of 2015 and 2016 seasons. The total collected numbers of the flies were 4993 and 4410 individuals for blue traps in 2015 and 2016, respectively, while they were 4650 and 3826 individuals for yellow traps in the two seasons, respectively. The mean number of caught flies increased gradually from January till March and then decreased until disappeared in June. There were highly significant differences between the mean numbers of caught flies and months where L.S.D values were 10.76 and 21.47 in 2015 and 2016, respectively. On the other hand the differences were insignificant with trap colour.
5.4.2. Transferring the infested apiary :
When the beekeeper transfer the infested apiary to another region free from infestation, 48% of the cases, the bees recovered from infestation in the same day, 41.9% recovered within three days and 9.3% recovered after a week. It was recommended to use this method in controlling the parasitic fly, Senotainia and put the apiary far from the regions which contain swamps.
5.4.3. Effect of infestation by Senotainia fly on colony production :
Means of honey production (Kg/colony), number of dividing swarms and the number of combs covered with bees from infested apiary in Al Batinah South deceased comparing with healthy one by 50.0 , 60.0 and 50.2%, respectively.
Reduction percent of the infested apiary of Al Batinah North were 25.0 , 0.0 and 50.0% in the honey, swarms and number of combs , respectively. The same trend was noticed in the infested apiaries of Al Dhahirah and Al Dakhiliyah Governorates.
5.4.4. Questionnaire model for the beekeepers of Sultanate of Oman :
Observations of fifty beekeepers of Sultanate of Oman from the five Governorates which contained infested apiaries were recorded in the questionnaire model. Their data could be summarized as follows:-
5.1. Infestation percentages were increased in the apiaries with sandy flour rather than those with gravel and clay floors because the fly pupated more successfully in the sand.
The apiary sheltered by palm fronds was more infested by the fly comparing with that located under the trees or with no shelters.
The correlation between the infestation percent and the distance between the apiaries was negative and highly significant (- 0.391).
5.2. Senotainia fly attacked honeybees on the hive entrance (74.0%). There was no infestation was recorded in the housed bees or the drones.
5.3. The infestation of honeybee by Senotainia fly leads to creeping workers on the apiary floor in front of the hives. No effects due the infestation were noticed for queens or workers lost at night or increasing the aggressiveness of bees.
5.4. Infestation of honeybee colonies by Senotainia fly caused a decrease in honey production, number of swarms and colony strength with percentages of 12.0, 14.0 and 16.0%, respectively.
5.5. When beekeepers transferred their infested apiary to another region free from infestation 48.0% of the infestation disappeared directly while 41.9% recovered within a week. The correlation between the infestation percent and transferring was positive and significant.