Sombreamento de colmeias de abelhas africanizadas no Semiárido Brasileiro

No Nordeste do Brasil a apicultura tem um enorme potencial de crescimento, no entanto, na maior parte desta região, o clima é considerado semiárido com altos índices de radiação solar, temperaturas elevadas e pouca intensidade pluviométrica. Este tipo de ambiente tem causado muitas perdas na produção apícola e gerado enormes dificuldades de crescimento no setor. Anualmente os apicultores perdem grande parte de suas colônias de abelhas por causa do abandono das colmeias (enxameação migratória), provocando o desestímulo dos criadores e a desistência da atividade apícola. Este trabalho aborda através de informações da literatura que, apesar da influência negativa das condições ambientais adversas no Semiárido Brasileiro, o sombreamento das colmeias é potencialmente eficiente para amenizar as condições ambientais hostis dessa região. Enxames instalados em colmeias protegidas da radiação direta do sol realizam a termorregulação interna do ninho mais facilmente, o que refletiria num menor gasto energético das abelhas e, portanto, maior rendimento da colônia. Como consequência, torna mais produtivo e rentável o processo de criação racional de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) em regiões áridas e semiáridas. O sombreamento das colmeias pode ser considerado uma técnica simples, eficiente e de baixo custo para os apicultores, representando assim uma alternativa economicamente viável e com ótima relação custo-benefício

Acceptance rate of Africanized honey bee larvae in hives maintained in the shade and under full sunlight in Northeast Brazil

In the Semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, adverse environmental conditions such as high radiation and temperature affect the balance of homeostasis of the colonies of Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). This research aimed to evaluate the rate of acceptance of Africanized honey bees larvae (Important stage of process of queen-rearing) in hives installed in the shade and under full sunlight in the semiarid climate of Northeastern Brazil. 10 colonies of honeybees (5 in the shade and 5 under full sunlight) were orphaned and prepared with young workers and food, having standardized biomass (equal population conditions) to receive frames containing 60-100 queen cell cups with larvae up to 24 hour-old. The acceptance percentage of transferred or grafted larvae to each colony was measured 72 hours after carrying out transfers and means were compared by the Student’s t-test at 5% probability. The colonies under shade conditions showed acceptance rate of 68.82 ± 17.03%, significantly higher (P = 0.0044) than the colonies subjected to direct sunlight with only 52.13 ± 16.29%. Thus, for the production of queens and royal jelly of Africanized honeybees in the semiarid climate of Northeast Brazil, it is strongly recommended the installation of apiaries in shady locations

Longevity and reproduction period of africanized queen bees in the Northeast region of Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the longevity and reproductive period of Africanized queen bees under the climatic conditions of the Zona da Mata region in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil. Longevity and reproduction data of 41 Apis mellifera L. queen bees naturally fertilized were collected every 15 days from February 2014 to December 2015, and correlated with climatological data—precipitation, temperature, and relative humidity—from this period.  The mean longevity of the queen bees was 6.4±2.9 months. The months with the lowest number of death of queens were those with the highest precipitation—May to August—in the study region, presenting a strong negative correlation (r = -0.65 and p = 0.02) between the time of queen death and precipitation index. The peak of the reproductive season in this region was September to December. All queen bees laid eggs during all months of the year. The oviposition intensity of the queens and the number of brood combs increased as the temperature increased and the humidity and precipitation index decreased. A colony of Africanized bees replaces their queen at least once a year in the Zona da Mata region. Therefore, it is recommended a constant inspection of the colonies regarding the presence of the queen bee, and the introduction of a new queen when it is absent, if possible with a selected one to be naturally fertilized and, thus, provide a good population for the colony in the peak of the reproductive season in this region—September to December

Protein levels and colony development of Africanized and European honey bees fed natural and artificial diets

Pollen substitute diets are a valuable resource for maintaining strong and health honey bee colonies. Specific diets may be useful in one region or country and inadequate or economically unviable in others. We compared two artificial protein diets that had been formulated from locally-available ingredients in Brazil with bee bread and a non-protein sucrose diet. Groups of 100 newly-emerged, adult workers of Africanized honey bees in Brazil and European honey bees in the USA were confined in small cages and fed on one of four diets for seven days. The artificial diets included a high protein diet made of soy milk powder and albumin, and a lower protein level diet consisting of soy milk powder, brewer’s yeast and rice bran. The initial protein levels in newly emerged bees were approximately 18-21 μg/μL hemolymph. After feeding on the diets for seven days, the protein levels in the hemolymph were similar among the protein diet groups (~37-49 μg/μL after seven days), although Africanized bees acquired higher protein levels, increasing 145 and 100% on diets D1 and D2, respectively, versus 83 and 60% in the European bees. All the protein diets resulted in significantly higher levels of protein than sucrose solution alone. In the field, the two pollen substitute diets were tested during periods of low pollen availability in the field in two regions of Brazil. Food consumption, population development, colony weight, and honey production were evaluated to determine the impact of the diets on colony strength parameters. The colonies fed artificial diets had a significant improvement in all parameters, while control colonies dwindled during the dearth period. We conclude that these two artificial protein diets have good potential as pollen substitutes during dearth periods and that Africanized bees more efficiently utilize artificial protein diets than do European honey bees.FAPESP 07/07701-3FAPESP 04/15801-0CNPqFAEP

Sombreamento de colmeias de abelhas africanizadas no Semiárido Brasileiro

In Northeast Brazil, beekeeping has an enormous growth potential, however, in most of this region, the climate is considered semi-arid with high levels of solar radiation, high temperatures and low rainfall intensity. This type of environment has caused many losses in honey production and generated enormous growth difficulties in the sector. Every year beekeepers lose many of their bee colonies because of the abandonment of hives (absconding behaviors), causing discouragement for beekeepers and thus the withdrawal of the practice of beekeeping. This study attempts to show through literature information that despite the negative influence of adverse environmental conditions in the Brazilian semiarid region, the shading of the hives is potentially effective to soften the harsh environmental conditions of the region. Swarms installed in beehives protected from direct sunlight perform the internal thermoregulation of the nest more easily, which would reflect a lower energetic cost of the bees and, therefore, higher yield of the colony. As result, it becomes the more productive and profitable process of rational creation of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in arid and semiarid regions. Shading can be considered a simple, efficient, and low cost technique for beekeepers, representing an economically viable alternative and cost-effective.No Nordeste do Brasil a apicultura tem um enorme potencial de crescimento, no entanto, na maior parte desta região, o clima é considerado semiárido com altos índices de radiação solar, temperaturas elevadas e pouca intensidade pluviométrica. Este tipo de ambiente tem causado muitas perdas na produção apícola e gerado enormes dificuldades de crescimento no setor. Anualmente os apicultores perdem grande parte de suas colônias de abelhas por causa do abandono das colmeias (enxameação migratória), provocando o desestímulo dos criadores e a desistência da atividade apícola. Este trabalho aborda através de informações da literatura que, apesar da influência negativa das condições ambientais adversas no Semiárido Brasileiro, o sombreamento das colmeias é potencialmente eficiente para amenizar as condições ambientais hostis dessa região. Enxames instalados em colmeias protegidas da radiação direta do sol realizam a termorregulação interna do ninho mais facilmente, o que refletiria num menor gasto energético das abelhas e, portanto, maior rendimento da colônia. Como consequência, torna mais produtivo e rentável o processo de criação racional de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) em regiões áridas e semiáridas. O sombreamento das colmeias pode ser considerado uma técnica simples, eficiente e de baixo custo para os apicultores, representando assim uma alternativa economicamente viável e com ótima relação custo-benefício

Influence of body fluid from pin-killed honey bee pupae on hygienic behavior

Hygienic behavior in honey bees can be tested by piercing the brood with a pin; however, there is concern that variability in the quantity of fluids that leaks from the pupae could influence test results. Colonies of Apis mellifera carnica were tested to evaluate this possibility. We made four repetitions of four treatments and one control in each of three colonies. The order of degree of hygienic behavior was: pin-killed capped worker brood with a drop of body fluid injected underneath the cell capping > pin-killed capped worker brood > undamaged capped brood with a drop of body fluid injected underneath the cell capping > control or a drop of pupal body fluid placed on the cell cappings. All of the differences were significant (Tukey test, P < 0.05) except the body fluid on the cell cap, which gave the same results as the control. The addition, inside worker brood cells, of pupal body fluid had a significant effect on honey bee hygienic behavior, both in normal brood and in pin-killed brood. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Pari

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are more efficient at removing worker brood artificially infested with the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans than are Italian bees or Italian/Africanized hybrids

Africanized honey bees are more tolerant of infestations with the mite Varroa jacobsoni than are honey bees of European origin. The capacity of these bees to detect and react to brood infested with this mite could be one of the factors determining this tolerance. We tested colonies of Africanized bees headed by queens from swarms collected in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State. The Italian colonies had queens imported directly from the USA, or from the Brazilian Island of Fernando de Noronha, where varroa-infested Italian colonies have been maintained, untreated, since 1984. Recently sealed worker brood cells were artificially infested by opening the cell capping, inserting live adult female mites and resealing the cells. Control cells were treated in the same way, but without introducing mites. The ability of the Africanized honey bees to recognize and remove this artificially infested brood was compared with that of first generation Italian/Africanized hybrid bees, and with the two groups of "pure" Italian bees, in three separate experiments. Africanized colonies removed a mean of 51% of the infested brood, while Italian/Africanized hybrid colonies removed 25%. Africanized colonies also removed a significantly greater proportion of infested brood than did Italian colonies, headed by queens from the USA (59 vs. 31%, respectively). Similarly, when Africanized colonies were compared with colonies of Italian bees from Fernando de Noronha, the former were found to be significantly more efficient at removing infested brood (61 vs. 35%, respectively), even though the population of Italian bees on this island has been exposed to and survived varroa infestations (without treatment) for more than 12 years. Only the Africanized honey bees removed a significant proportion of varroa-infested brood, when the data was corrected for brood removal from control cells.Abelhas africanizadas são mais tolerantes à infestação com o ácaro Varroa jacobsoni do que abelhas de origem européia. A capacidade destas abelhas de detectar e reagir à cria infestada com este ácaro pode ser um dos fatores chaves que determina esta tolerância. Células de cria de operária foram infestadas artificialmente, abrindo o opérculo, inserindo ácaros fêmeas adultas vivas e selando as células. A habilidade das abelhas africanizadas de reconhecer e remover esta cria infestada artificialmente foi comparada com a de abelhas híbridas italianas/africanizadas e com dois grupos de abelhas italianas "puras", em três experimentos distintos. Rainhas italianas já fecundadas foram importadas dos EUA ou foram obtidas da ilha de Fernando de Noronha, Brasil, onde abelhas italianas são mantidas desde 1984. Colmeias africanizadas removeram em media 51% da cria infestada, enquanto colmeias híbridas italianas/africanizadas removeram 25%. Colmeias africanizadas também removeram uma proporção significativamente maior de cria infestada do que colmeias "puras" italianas com rainhas dos EUA (59 vs. 31%, respectivamente). Da mesma maneira, quando colmeias africanizadas foram comparadas com colmeias de abelhas italianas da ilha de Fernando de Noronha, as africanizadas foram significativamente mais eficientes na remoção de cria infestada (61 vs. 35%, respectivamente), apesar de que a população de abelhas italianas desta ilha foi exposta a varroa e elas sobreviveram sem tratamento durante mais de 12 anos. Somente as abelhas africanizadas removeram uma proporção significante da cria infestada com V. jacobsoni, quando os dados foram corrigidos pela taxa de remoção da cria das células controles