PRODUCTION AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF GRAY BEES (Apis mellifera carnica)

Abstract

Krnajska, medonosna ili siva pčela (Apis mellifera carnica) ključna je za suvremeni način pčelarenja, koja zbog dobrih bioloških i proizvodnih osobina omogućuje vrijedne proizvode animalnog podrijetla i smatra se jednim od najvažnijih oprašivača medonosnog uzgajanog i samoniklog bilja. Kranjska pčela je autohtona vrsta u Hrvatskoj, ali je zbog svoje povećane genetske otpornosti na bolesti i neagresivne prirode cijenjena i u svijetu. U ovom radu opisat će se građa kranjske pčele te se objasniti glavni morfološki aspekti po kojima se ova pčela može diferencirati od drugih pasmina. Nadalje, predstavit će se i relevantne proizvodne osobine po kojima je ona karakteristična, a definirat će se i glavna biološka obilježja. Konačno, predstavit će se opće karakteristike pčela radilica, matica i trutova i objasniti prednosti i nedostatci koje kranjsku pčelu razlikuju od ostalih pčelinjih vrsta.The Carniolan, honey or gray bee (Apis mellifera carnica) is essential to the modern apiculture, and because of its positive biological and productive characteristics due to which it produces valuable products of animal origin, the Carniolan honey bee is considered one of the most important pollinators of melliferous cultivated and self-grown plants. The Carniolan honey bee is a species indigenous to Croatia, but it is also appreciated in the world for its better genetic resistance to diseases and its non-aggressive behavior. In this thesis we will describe the anatomy of the Carniolan honey bee and we will explain the main morphological aspects by which this bee can be differentiated from other species. Further, we will present relevant production traits that make it characteristic, as well as define main biological features. Finally, we will present general characteristics of worker bees, queen bees and drones and we will explain the advantages and disadvantages that distinguish the Carniolan honey bee from other bee specie