الفهرس 
Acknowledgement
Measurements of Morphometric characteristicsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The economic characteristics of honey bee, Apis mellifera colony are dependent mainly on the quality of the queen and mating success.The main objective of the present work is to investigate the quality of virgin queen honey bees that produced commercially in Egypt through two months March and August.
The laboratories experimental works were conducted in the AgricultureCollege, AssiutUniversity. Nuclei, equal in strength, of Carniolan honey bee hybrid (Apis mellifera carnica) located in a private apiary at Abnoub district, were used for field studies during March and August, 2015 and 2016 seasons. To evaluate the quality and performance of honey bee queens, 720 virgin queens were used from five breeding stations in March and August during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
A-Laboratory Studies:
The measurements were carried out on 450 virgin queens.
The obtained results were as following:
1. Live Weight:
-Wet weight, the general means of queen weights of all sources were (144.34 ± 8.35 mg) in March rearing and (149.53 ± 4.74) in August inspection.
-Frequency Distribution of Virgin Queen Weights:
The weight of testes virgin queen were set into three successive group, within each rearing source, i.e. < 120, 120 to 150, and > 150 mg, on the two examined introducing dates of the studied years. It was found that the heaviest weight group (more than 150 mg) was reported in high percentages of 66.5 and 59% to (A) and (E) location, during March introduction. Again, the heaviest weight was reported for (A) location during August introduction assembled with 67%. The consequent percentage of 56 was obtained from (C) location. On the other hand, the lowest weight groups were prevailed for other compared locations.
2. External Body characteristics:
- General means length and width of thorax of all sources were (4.76 ± 0.12) and (3.79 ± 0.55) mm in March rearing and (4.81 ± 0.12) and (4.08±0.06) mm in August inspection which insignificant differences between the two trials. While there are significant differences in March and August in Fore wing (length – width) which were (8.96 ± 0.06 - 9.11 ± 0.06) mm and in Fore wing width which were (2.90 ± 0.02 - 3.03 ± 0.07) respectively. There are significant differences in Hind wing length (6.38 ± 0.09) and (6.50 ± 0.04) while insignificant differences in Hind wing width which were (2.02 ± 0.02) and (1.97 ± 0.03) mm in March and August trials respectively. There are a significant differences between the two trials in sum. tergits length (3+4) which were (3.45 ± 0.22) and (3.85 ± 0.05) mm, and the significant differences in the abdomen length were found between the two trials (8.35 ± 0.29) and (8.83 ± 0.08)mm.
3- Internal Body characteristics:
The results show that the general means of ovariole numbers varied insignificantly (P<0.05) by seasons of rearing queens. The general mean for March rearing (123.65 ± 4.35 ovarioles) was lower than the general mean for August rearing (127.18 ± 3.06 ovarioles).
-Frequency Distribution of Ovariole Numbers in Virgin Queens:
The number of ovarioles that any tested queen hold were arranged in three groups regarding each source, i.e. > 100, (101 to 125), and (126 to 150) ovarioles.The calculated frequency distribution of ovarioles of March trial showed that the queens obtained from (A) and (E) sources compiled the highest category (126 to 150 overioles). While when the results of August trial were calculated, in absence of (E) source, the queens of (A) and (B) sources occupied the highest group, represented with (54.3 and 54.3%). Moreover, there is no record of queens under the lowest group during August trial.
-Insignificant differences were found in the spermathecal volume between the different sources during March and August of both years 2015 and 2016.
4. Test of Nosema:
-The highest general mean percentage of Nosema infections in virgin queens was found in March rearing 13.3% while the lowest percentage of 5% was in August rearing with a deviation percent -42.1%.
B-Functions of Introduced Queens:270 virgin queens were used on the field.
The obtained results were as following:
1. Determine the Success of Queen Acceptance:
-The general means percentages of successful acceptance of both March and August of years 2015 and 2016 was 69.28% and 83.27%. A fluctuated percentage of successful acceptance was remarked according to the source of queens and the breeding seasons within range between 46.6 to 100%.
-Effect the Wet Weight of the Introduced Queen on the Successful Acceptance:
The successful acceptance of the introducing of queen in relation with its live weight has been studied by two trials on March and August through two years of 2015 and 2016. On March trial, in reference to all the compared locations, the results revealed that the queens belonging to the heavy weigh group allowed to the highest record of acceptance, since a general mean of queens (81.52%) introduced the successful status. However, the queens in the least weight group recognized the lowest figures of successful. On the other hand, the trials of August during the two years of study approved the former statement of March, since the queens of heaviest had the highest successful acceptance of (76.1%). While the highest percentage of (SAVQ) was 86.85% in the medium weight at august trial.
2. Determine the Successful mating rate:
-The percentages of successful mating of queens obtained from the studied locations were found that 89.0% successful mating occurred for queens introduced in March trial while 81.4% was achieved on August trial.
-Effect of Queen Weight Introduced during March and August of both years 2015 and 2016 onSuccess Virgin Queens Mating (SVQM):
This study carried out to explain the relation between the successful of queen mating and its weight as a parameter to its quality. The data showed March of both years 2015 and 2016 that queens with heavy weight at had the highest percentage of SVQM which were 61%, lowest percentage of SVQM which were 16.66 % in the light weight. While in August of both years 2015 and 2016 that queens with heavy weight at had the highest percentage of SVQM which were 66.1%. The lowest percentage of SVQM which was 33.3 % in the light weight. In contrast, the light weight of virgin queens has the highest percentage of failed queen in March and in August.
3. Counting Spermatozoa in the Spermatheca:
-The general mean numbers of sperm counted in spermathecae (± SD ×106) of mated queens found that, March trail of both years 2015 and 2016 there was found a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the different sources, with general mean (2.21±0.19)million sperm, for the studied years. However, the assessment count during August trial of the two years failed to find a significant different sources, and general mean of (2.38±0.10) million sperm. The percentage of general mean reported as 87.5% less than three million sperms was reportedon March and August of both studied years.
-Frequency Distribution of Sperm’s Counts in the Spermatheca:
Data show that the percentages of queen bees with less than three million sperms in their spermathecae were 75% (A) and (B) sources, 100% (C) and (D) sources, 87.5% (E) source. The general mean reported as 87.5% on March of both studied years. While on August of two studied years, this status of less than three million sperms was reported as 62.5% for (A) source, 100% for band (D) sources, and 87.5% for (C) source with general mean of 87.5%.
The count of sperms in the queens spermatheca belong to March trial revealed that all of them have less than 3.5 million sperms except that of (E) source which only 12.5% of them recorded this figure. Moreover, the rest of queens belong to the former source gained less than 3 million sperms, which constituted 87.5%. All the queens belong to both (C) and (D) sources categorized in group gained less than 3 million sperms. Queens of (A) source classed in two groups, 75% has less than 3 million and 25% has from 3 to 3.5 million sperms. In August, the census of sperms in the spermatheca over 3.5 million was counted on (A) and (C) sources, with general mean of 6.25%, and never reported on rest of compared sources.
It can be concluded that the laying queens obtained that from different sources exhibited fluctuated frequency in the sperms less than three million sperms. It is rare to register more than 3.5 million sperms in the other compared source.
4. Determine the queen’s survivorship:
4-1-The Survivorship of Honey Bee Queens after 15 Weeks of Introduction:
-When the survival percentages of queens were compared within two the trials, it was found that a higher records of 94.6 and 100% reported for August trial on 2015 and 2016, respectively. The against records of March on the two studied years resulted with lower survival percentages of 71.9 and 87.1%, 15 weeks after introduction.
-The Survivorship of Honey Bee Queens after 15 Weeks of Introduction, in Relation to Weight of the Virgin Queen:
Data show that the survivorship of queens in hives through 15 weeks after introduction under the three sorted groups of queen weight introduced during March and August of both years 2015 and 2016. The observed results of the March trial on the studied years indicated that the queens under the heavy and medium weight consisted the respective percentages of 70 and 71.3 as they survived till the terminal date of study (15 weeks after introduction). It’s also found that, in regard to August trial of the two studied years, queens percentage at the heavy weight 100% survived till 15 weeks after introduction. On the contrast, the queens grouped under light weight failed to survive enough under the two trials of introduction.
4-2-The Survivorship of Honey Bee Queens after 30 Weeks of Introduction:
-The survival records of inspected queens under the two trials of the two studied years ranged in percentages from 42.85% to 100%. Meanwhile, the queens introduced on August, 2015 conducted the longest survivorship record for 30 weeks.It can be calculated that the queen survival does not affected with the breeding source, but significantly with the time introduction.
-The Survivorship of Honey Bee Queens after 30 Weeks of Introduction, in Relation to Weight of the Virgin Queen:
Data showed that the surviving success of queens in hives 30 weeks after introduction from the three groups of queen weight introduced during March and August of both years 2015 and 2016. The average figures of the two studied years for March trial revealed that the queens of heavy weight constituted 56.04% lived for 30 weeks, among the tested queens. On August trial, the results indicated that 82.3% of queens lived for 30 weeks. These results supported to former obtained on the 15 weeks observation.
C-The Activities of Honey Beecolonies:
The study was carried out to explain the influence of queen reproductive quality on the activity and growth of the colony she heads. Some parameters were used to assay this relationship such as the number of honey bee workers, the brood surface area and the surplus of honey and pollen yield. The established colonies were subjected to measure the studied mention parameters responsible for activities, by regular inspection at 12-day intervals. The collective obtained data were gathered in monthly means to facilitate the analysis of results. The measurement of the activities parameters started on month following the establishment of colony (zero date) and extended for eleven months later (end of trial).
The obtained results were as following:
1- Bee Population:
The general mean of worker bee population ranged between (493.00±117.3) to (278.47) in March 2015 and (459.84±176.21) to (393.44±134.78) bees in March 2016. While in August 2015 were (617.33±400.45) to (459.95±194.27) and (421.92±146.36) to (393.50±140.15) bees in August 2016.
2-Sealed Worker Brood:
The general mean of sealed worker brood ranged between (146.80±85.15) to (102.57±67.62) in March 2015 and (142.49±113.15) to (106.79±97.82) sqin in March 2016. While in August 2015 were (187.34±118.31) to (136.36±77.95) and (150.09±94.69) to (131.34±70.14) sqin in August 2016.
3-Storage Honey:
The general mean of storage honey productionranged between (306.65±110.05) to (144.29±57.56) in March 2015 and (179.02±123.45) to (133.6±108.4) sqin in March 2016. While in August 2015 were (257.97±163.50) to (141.83±64.48) and (195.45±164.03) to (115.72±94.30) sqin in August 2016.
The main points of the study can be finalized as following:
1-Laboratory studies dealt with the external and internal phenotypic characteristics of each virgin queen from different sources, including the weight of the Virgin Queen - the average length of the length and width - the length and width of the fore and hind wing - the number of overiolesand the size of the spermatheca and the percentage of infection queens with Nosima.
2-The researcher introduced virgin queens under study on dequeened nuclei in two consecutive dates, March and August of the two years of study in order to know the most appropriate dates for the introduction of queens and follow the following measurements:
Success rate in the acceptance of these queens and the effect of weight on the degree of success of the acceptance and then after the mating successcounted the sperm in the spermatheca of the mateded queens and determine the length of the queens introduced after 15, 30 weeks of entry. For the purpose of comparing the vital functions possessed by queens obtained from different sources.
3-The researcher monitored and estimated the activity of the bee colonies introduced by the tested queens over the introduced season (11 months) after the establishment of these communities in two trials, March and August each year.
The study examined the estimation of the number of bee workers in each sources - the area of the brood of the workers - the amount of food stored from honey.