The influence of Nosema apis on young honeybee queens and transmission of the disease from queens to workers

Nosema apis inoculated and non-inoculated honeybee (Apis mellifera) queens were introduced into mating nuclei. The workers accepted all queens from both groups. During the 26 days of the experiment, 47.4% of the inoculated and 50% of the non-inoculated queens were lost. Queens from both groups started egg-laying after 15.8 days. Workers did not perceive the presence of N. apis in their queens and did not supersede inoculated queens significantly more often than healthy ones. Significantly more workers were infected in the mating nuclei with inoculated queens (61% ) than in those with non-inoculated ones (5.3% )

The Ability of Honey Bee Drones to Ejaculate

The effectiveness of two methods of collecting semen from honeybee Apis mellifera drones was compared, and the reasons for problems with ejaculating semen were analysed. Among 275 drones, 100 were stimulated to release semen using a manual method, 100 with the use of chloroform, and from 75 drones the reproductive organs were dissected for analysis and evaluation. It was found that the principal causes of problems that drones had with ejaculating their semen were anatomical changes or a delay in the development of the mucus glands. It was also found that the method employing chloroform was less efficient in the first phase of eversion of the endophallus, compared with the manual method. The method with the use of chloroform allows the determination of the proportion of drones, which do not evert the endophallus because of poor or delayed development of mucus glands, as well as the proportion of drones which evert the organ, but do not ejaculate semen because of the absence of semen in the seminal vesicles

The Effects of Starvation of Honey Bee Larvae on Reproductive Quality and Wing Asymmetry of Honey Bee Drones

Starvation during larval development has a negative effect on adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), but much less is known about the quality of drones starved during their development. We verified how starvation on the second day (early starvation) or the sixth day (late starvation) of larval development affects body mass, ejaculated semen volume and forewing size, shape, size asymmetry and shape asymmetry in drones after emergence. The larvae were starved for ten hours by being separated from nursing bees with a wire mash for 10 hours either early or late during larval development. Drones starved both early and late were smaller (254.1 ± 1.97 mg and 239.4 ± 2.12 mg, respectively) than the control regularly fed individuals (260.9 ± 2.01 mg), and their wing size changed as well (control: 889.76 ± 1.06; early: 880.9 ± 1.17; late: 868.05 ± 1.48). Starvation at a later phase of larval development caused more pronounced effects than at an earlier phase. On the other hand, ejaculated semen volume (control: 0.7 ± 0.043 μl; early: 0.88 ± 0.040 μl; late: 1.08 ± 0.031 μl), wing size asymmetry (control: 0.49 ± 0.025; early: 0.51 ± 0.026; late: 0.52 ± 0.03) and wing shape asymmetry (control: 17.4 ± 0.47 x 10-3; early: 16.9 ± 0.41 x 10-3; late: 17.6 ± 0.43 x 10-3) were not affected by starvation. This suggests that drones attempt to preserve characters which are important for their future reproduction

Dzienny rozkład wykorzystania pyłku kwiatowego przez pszczołę miodną (Apis mellifera L.) [Daily distribution of pollen collection by honeybee foragers (Apis mellifera L.)]

In May, July and September pollen loads samples were collected from 20 honeybee colonies, during 4 days at fixed hours. The pollen loads were classified into botanical taxons. Pollen loads of every examined taxon were collected during the whole day. The daily dynamics of pollen collection depends more on time of the day than temperature

Circular movement of honey bee spermatozoa inside spermatheca

<p>It is believed that in honey bees spermatozoa stored inside the spermatheca remain motionless, however, some studies have reported the contrary. To observe behaviour of spermatozoa inside spermathecae, we have instrumentally inseminated queens with spermatozoa stained with fluorescent stains. During the first 8 h after insemination movement of the spermatozoa was stationary, without fast forward movement. Later, we observed circular movement of the spermatozoa inside spermathecae. Numerous circles were visible at one time. The circles were located close to the spermathecal wall. Movement of the spermatozoa was also observed in spermathecae of naturally inseminated queens. The marble-like pattern of the spermathecae was changing. The changes were slow and well visible only when video recordings were played at high speed.</p