Showing papers in "Journal of Apicultural Research in 1982"
TL;DR: The type and degree of damage to adult workers of Apis mellifera from infestation with the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni during development was investigated and mean weights of infested bees upon emergence as adults were 6·3% to 25% less than for healthy bees.
Abstract: SummaryThe type and degree of damage to adult workers of Apis mellifera from infestation with the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni during development was investigated. Mean weights of infested bees upon emergence as adults were 6·3% to 25% less than for healthy bees. Mean % weight loss was correlated at a high level of significance with the number of mites in the cell. Only 6% of infested bees showed obvious physical deformation in the form of wing damage.
208 citations
TL;DR: Large reductions in the distributional ranges recorded after 1960 were found for two of the biogeographic elements (especially for the Southern Local Species), which have resulted in the emergence of a new Central Impoverished Region covering 23 vice-counties in Central England.
Abstract: SummaryThe suggested recent decrease in the distributional ranges of certain species of bumble bees was investigated in the data collected by the Bumblebee Distribution Maps Scheme, using a numerical classificatory approach. Three major biogeographic elements and four biogeographic regions are defined, and changes in their composition and distribution described. Large reductions in the distributional ranges recorded after 1960 were found for two of the biogeographic elements (especially for the Southern Local Species: Bombus subterraneus (L.), B. sylvarum (L.), B. ruderatus (F.) and B. humilis Ill.), which have resulted in the emergence of a new Central Impoverished Region covering 23 vice-counties in Central England.
206 citations
TL;DR: Time spent at the food source and quantity of sugar solution collected during the visit were measured in honeybees conditioned to visit an artificial source of food source.
Abstract: Time spent at the food source (visit-time) and quantity of sugar solution collected during the visit (honey-sac or crop load) were measured in honeybees conditioned to visit an artificial source of...
129 citations
TL;DR: No direct correlation was apparent between rate of synthesis and size of the acini of the glands of honeybees, but protein synthesis increased in spring when brood rearing started.
Abstract: SummaryA method is described for measuring rate of protein synthesis in vitro by hypopharyngeal glands of honeybees. No direct correlation was apparent between rate of synthesis and size of the acini of the glands. Full-grown glands of summer bees showed highly variable synthetic activity. Glands of known nurse bees demonstrated the highest rates of protein synthesis. Winter bees with completely filled acini showed reduced activity, but protein synthesis increased in spring when brood rearing started.
73 citations
TL;DR: Quantitative differences were found in the chemical composition of royal jelly samples collected in spring and summer by the same producer, the main difference was in the free fatty acids, which showed a marked increase in 10-hydroxydecanoic acid in summer.
Abstract: SummaryQuantitative differences were found in the chemical composition of royal jelly samples collected in spring and summer by the same producer. The main difference was in the free fatty acids, which showed a marked increase in 10-hydroxydecanoic acid in summer. The sterol and hydrocarbon fractions were also investigated. The most significant sterols were identified by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. The hydrocarbon components, identified by their retention times, were a homologous series of straight-chain compounds, from C16 to C33, with even and odd numbers of carbon atoms. Considerable amounts of some hydrocarbons were found. Of the sterols identified, the most abundant was 24-methylene cholesterol; stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-avenasterol and cholesterol were also present.
61 citations
TL;DR: Positive correlations were found between the numbers of workers and the adult life-span and dry weight of worker progeny they reared and it is suggested that a nutritional factor is involved.
Abstract: SummarySmall colonies consisting of a caged queen and young adult workers, ranging in number from 200 to 2800, were given 400 eggs to rear. Positive correlations were found between the numbers of workers and the adult life-span and dry weight of worker progeny they reared. Dry weight and life-span were also positively correlated. It is suggested that a nutritional factor is involved. Syrup, pollen and water were provided in a flight cage.
47 citations
TL;DR: The number of days from emergence to the onset of oviposition in 7 groups of queens was 10·33 ± 0·68, and naturally mated queens started laying eggs earlier than the instrumentally inseminated queens.
Abstract: SummaryThe number of days from emergence to the onset of oviposition in 7 groups of queens was as follows: naturally mated queens, 10·33 ± 0·68; free-flying queens treated with CO2, 11·00 ± 0·36; queens instrumentally inseminated by the Mackensen technique, 13·8 ± 1·94; virgin queens treated with CO2, 14·00 ± 0·77; queens instrumentally inseminated, using the washing technique, 14·58 ± 0·53; queens injected with washing fluid, 15·82 ± 1·42; queens injected with Kiev solution, 17·77 ± 1·24. The number of spermatozoa in the spermatheca of naturally mated queens, of queens inseminated by the Mackensen technique, and of queens inseminated by the washing technique, was 4·54 ± 0·7, 3·83 ± 0·47, and 3·02 ± 0·52 millions, respectively. Naturally mated queens started laying eggs earlier than the instrumentally inseminated queens.
43 citations
TL;DR: The genie mechanism of sex determination in honeybees is the greatest deterrent to successful bee breeding, because of the production of nonviable diploid drones with inbreeding.
Abstract: SummaryThe genie mechanism of sex determination in honeybees is the greatest deterrent to successful bee breeding, because of the production of nonviable diploid drones with inbreeding. Part I of this paper discusses sex determination, the expected mean and variance in brood viability among queens, and the expected rate of loss of sex alleles in closed, finite, random-mating populations. This provides a foundation on which successful closed population stock maintenance and honeybee improvement programmes can be based.
37 citations
TL;DR: When the reported results for all three loci are combined, individual Africanized or European workers should be identifiable with a probability of more than 99%.
Abstract: SummaryA procedure for analysing the results of protein electrophoresis for taxonomic purposes is described. Its application to identifying Africanized honeybees is presented, using previously reported data for the loci coding for malate dehydrogenase (Mdh), alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), and a general protein band (P-3). Mdh can be used alone to identify individual workers as Africanized or European, with a probability of more than 90% for the reported populations, but it does not meet the 99% probability criterion for use as a diagnostic locus. When the reported results for all three loci are combined, individual Africanized or European workers should be identifiable with a probability of more than 99%. This degree of accuracy may not be possible in other populations, not yet assayed electrophoretically.
34 citations
TL;DR: The content of free amino acids in 24 honeys from England and one from Wales were determined by ion-exchange chromatography and one method, canonical variates analysis, correctly distinguished between the British and foreign honeys.
Abstract: SummaryThe content of free amino acids in 24 honeys from England and one from Wales were determined by ion-exchange chromatography. The results were compared with the analyses of 12 honeys from outside the UK, analysed at the same time, by two statistical methods. One method, canonical variates analysis, correctly distinguished between the British and foreign honeys.
30 citations
TL;DR: Large, closed populations lose sex alleles more slowly than small ones, and are therefore better able to maintain acceptable levels of brood viability, and desirable genetic characteristics.
Abstract: SummaryLarge, closed populations lose sex alleles more slowly than small ones, and are therefore better able to maintain acceptable levels of brood viability, and desirable genetic characteristics. The rate of loss of sex alleles can be decreased by selecting a single random-mated daughter replacement queen from each stock queen in each generation. An excess of heterozygous individuals can be obtained by subdividing the population and ensuring that cross-matings take place only between individuals belonging to different subpopulations.New sex alleles can be introduced into closed populations with a minimum of undesirable germ plasm only after adequate testing and identification of queens with new sex alleles. Selection for characters other than brood viability can accelerate the loss of sex alleles in a closed, random-mating population. However, concomitant selection for high brood viability may result in a decreased rate of loss of sex alleles, and consequently in a higher average brood viability in the ...
TL;DR: The wagtail dance of Apis florea is performed on that section of the tope of the comb which faces in the direction of the wagtails of the dance, and bees danced in one of two directions.
Abstract: SummaryThe wagtail dance of Apis florea is performed on that section of the tope of the comb which faces in the direction of the wagtail run of the dance. If the dancing bee had a direct view of the sky, the wagtail dances pointed approximately in the direction of the feeding place, on average 6·2° to the right of it (SD = ± 15°). Without direct sight of the sky, A. florea also performed wagtail dances oriented towards the feeding place, on average 4·4° to the right of it (SD = ± 25°).When bees saw the sky through a mirror, they danced in one of two directions. The first seemed to be the direction of the image of the feeding place in the mirror, and the second the opposite direction (180° from the first).
TL;DR: Uptake of proteinaceous molecules without digestion is not restricted to host proteins, as was demonstrated by the injection of bovine serum albumen into adult worker honeybees and its subsequent detection in the haemocoel of female mites which had fed on the injected bees for 12–48 h.
Abstract: SummaryNutrition of the sucking mite Varroa jacobsoni includes macromolecular resorption of proteins. Undegraded Apis proteins can be detected in the blood and eggs of the mite by immuno-techniques. Uptake of proteinaceous molecules without digestion is not restricted to host proteins, as was demonstrated by the injection of bovine serum albumen into adult worker honeybees and its subsequent detection in the haemocoel of female mites which had fed on the injected bees for 12–48 h.
TL;DR: (Z)-ll-eicosen-l-ol, a recently discovered volatile component of the sting apparatus, is attractive to foragers trained to collect sugar syrup and to scout bees, but does not enhance the attractiveness of the Nasonov pheromone.
Abstract: Summary(Z)-ll-eicosen-l-ol, a recently discovered volatile component of the sting apparatus, is attractive to foragers trained to collect sugar syrup and to scout bees, but does not enhance the attractiveness of the Nasonov pheromone.
TL;DR: The weights of European and Africanized worker honeybees in swarms were determined and it is recommended that an estimate of a swarm size should be based on the mean weight of workers sampled from that swarm.
Abstract: SummaryThe weights of European and Africanized worker honeybees in swarms were determined. European worker were significantly heavier. Within each population, mean weights of workers from different swarms varied greatly, mostly because of differences in the mean weights of honey sac contents. As the weights of worker differed so much between swarms, it is recommended that an estimate of a swarm size should be based on the mean weight of workers sampled from that swarm.
TL;DR: Foragers from hives with more comb were less likely to collect food of lower sugar concentration; however, when they did collect it, they were more likely to perform recruitment dances upon their return to the hive.
Abstract: SummaryEmpty storage combs in honeybee nests regulated the nectar-harvesting activities of occupant bees. Increased honey storage stimulated by the presence of more empty comb was associated with more intense nectar-harvesting behaviour both in and away from the hive. Foragers from hives with more comb were less likely to collect food of lower sugar concentration; however, when they did collect it, they were more likely to perform recruitment dances upon their return to the hive. Colonies with more empty comb stored more honey during major nectar flows but less during minor flows. Among colonies supplied with similar amounts of comb, those that stored more honey during major nectar flows stored less during minor ones.
TL;DR: Africanized swarms weighed more, although the individual bees in them weighed less, and they always built a smaller total area of comb and tended to include fewer drones, than swarms of European bees, which suggest a model of nest-cavity selection formulated as a hierarchical set of choices.
Abstract: SummaryThe overall pattern of nest-box occupations by European bees in Louisiana indicated a minimum acceptable volume of c. 10 litres, a maximum acceptable volume of c. 40 litres, and no preference between these extremes. Africanized bees in Venezuela had a nest-box occupation pattern indicating a minimum acceptable volume of c. 20 litres, no maximum acceptable volume within the limits of the sizes available in the experiment, and no clear preference between volumes from 20 to 120 litres. These data suggest a model of nest-cavity selection formulated as a hierarchical set of choices.Africanized swarms weighed more, although the individual bees in them weighed less, and they always built a smaller total area of comb and tended to include fewer drones, than swarms of European bees.
TL;DR: The bacteriophage of Bacillus larvae was isolated in Czechoslovakia for the first time and is polyvalent and may become virulent, forming plaques with various strains of B. larvae.
Abstract: SummaryThe bacteriophage of Bacillus larvae was isolated in Czechoslovakia for the first time. Most strains of B. larvae were found to contain a temperate non-virulent phage which could be detected by a cross-test. This bacteriophage is polyvalent and may become virulent, forming plaques with various strains of B. larvae. The morphology and ultrastructure of the phage are described for the first time. This bacteriophage of B. larvae has been designated BLA.
TL;DR: Growth rates of honeybee larvae were determined in the period April-July by weighing individual larvae at definite age intervals by measuring Larval weight and the relationship expressed in terms of regression equations was correlated to larval age.
Abstract: SummaryGrowth rates of honeybee larvae (Apis mellifera) were determined in the period April-July by weighing individual larvae at definite age intervals. Larval weight was correlated to larval age and the relationship expressed in terms of regression equations. A coefficient of variation of 20% was established as a maximum acceptable variation for pooled samples of 20 larvae.
TL;DR: A total of 160 queens were instrumentally inseminated with 8 mm3 of semen and the lowest numbers of spermatozoa entered the spermatheca of queens kept in 1- and 4-comb nuclei without any workers.
Abstract: SummaryA total of 160 queens were instrumentally inseminated with 8 mm3 of semen. The queens were introduced to 1- or 4-comb mating nuclei containing 8 different numbers of workers, ranging from 0 to 1000. The nuclei were placed outdoors and the temperature was measured three times a day.Two days after insemination, 5 out of 20 queens without any attendant workers had died, and all the others had some semen still in their oviducts. Almost all queens attended by 100 or more workers had oviducts clear of semen. The lowest numbers of spermatozoa (1·4 and 1·2 million) entered the spermatheca of queens kept in 1- and 4-comb nuclei without any workers. Presence of 50 workers doubled the number of spermatozoa entering the spermatheca to 2·6 and 2·7 million. Further increase up to 200 workers only slightly increased the number of spermatozoa in the spermatheca, but an increase up to 350 attendants resulted in 3·7 and 3·6 million spermatozoa in the spermatheca, 3 times as many as in queens without workers, and 1·4...
TL;DR: Although the pigments of pollen responsible for its yellow colour, and also for the absorption of long-wave UV light, attracted foraging honeybees to pollen sources in the flight room, they appeared not to be directly associated with the substance(s) that attracted bees in the hive to eat the pollen fed to them.
Abstract: SummaryAlthough the pigments of pollen responsible for its yellow colour, and also for the absorption of long-wave UV light, attracted foraging honeybees to pollen sources in the flight room, they appeared not to be directly associated with the substance(s) that attracted bees in the hive to eat the pollen fed to them.
TL;DR: A probit-analysis computer program calculated the time required for the bees in each cage to uncap or remove 50% of the brood, and appeared to be repeatable.
Abstract: SummaryNewly emerged workers uncapped and removed freeze-killed brood in laboratory test cages. A probit-analysis computer program calculated the time required for the bees in each cage to uncap or remove 50% of the brood. The mean time required for 100 worker progeny of different queens to uncap or remove 50% of the 40 brood cells was significantly different, ranging from about 1 to 4½ days. These measurements appeared to be repeatable. Possible common genetic control of these two behaviours is suggested by the significant correlation between them in laboratory tests (r = +0·916, P<0·05).
TL;DR: Multiple inseminations of the queen honeybee with small volumes of diluted semen resulted in significantly more spermatozoa entering the spermatheca than did single insemination of the same total volumes.
Abstract: SummaryMultiple inseminations of the queen honeybee with small volumes of diluted semen resulted in significantly more spermatozoa entering the spermatheca than did single inseminations of the same total volumes (P < 0·01). In three experiments with small, equal insemination volumes, the second insemination contributed more spermatozoa to the spermatheca than did the first. For inseminations of semen that had been stored in liquid nitrogen (—196°C), the second insemination contributed 77% and 68% in two different experiments. With fresh diluted semen the second insemination contributed 61%.
TL;DR: Early death in the cage could be virtually eliminated by providing young laying queens and there were significant differences in the incidence of early death among the progeny of different queens.
Abstract: SummaryNewly emerged worker progeny of certain queens exhibited an early period of death after being put into laboratory test cages. Examination of early death in the progeny of 82 queens demonstrated that: it occurred during days 1–8 in the cage; 0–22% of the cage population died during this period; among progeny of the median queen, an average of 2–0% of the bees died; there were significant differences in the incidence of early death among the progeny of different queens (P<0·001); the incidence of early death appeared to be repeatable. Early death in the cage could be virtually eliminated by providing young laying queens.
TL;DR: A comparative analysis of fatty acids and sterols in colony- and laboratory-stored pollen from the same source revealed some important differences.
Abstract: SummaryA comparative analysis of fatty acids and sterols in colony- and laboratory-stored pollen from the same source revealed some important differences. The sterol ester concentration was 56% higher in pollen stored in the colony; there was also a much lower concentration of the essential fatty acids linoleic (C18: 2) and linolenic (C18: 3), and more of the saturated C16 and C18 acids.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the composition of the mandibular gland secretions of the workers is functionally related to the age polyethism displayed by this species.
Abstract: SummaryThe mandibular gland secretions of nurse bees, foragers and males of the stingless bee, Trigona gribodoi Magretti, were analysed quantitatively using gas chromatography (GC) and combined GC-mass spectrometry. Eight compounds were identified in the foragers' secretions: 2-haptanone, nonanal, 2-nonanol, 1-nonanol, neral and geranial (stereoisomers of citral), tetradecane, and hexadecane; four of these were absent from the secretions of nurse bees and the rest were present in lower concentrations. On the basis of these changes with age and the results obtained from behavioural bioassays, it is concluded that the composition of the mandibular gland secretions of the workers is functionally related to the age polyethism displayed by this species.
TL;DR: A practical and effective mixture for attracting honeybees to cluster on a lure has been developed, based on a mixture of (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid with some of the components of the Nasonov gland pheromone.
Abstract: SummaryA practical and effective mixture for attracting honeybees to cluster on a lure has been developed, based on a mixture of (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid with some of the components of the Nasonov gland pheromone. The mixture contains no farnesol or nerol, and unpurified preparations are suitable. It is more effective than the mixture of the acid with all 7 components in equal proportions; this is in turn superior to a mixture of all components present in natural proportions.
TL;DR: A simple mathematical model is presented that predicts brood numbers within a honeybee colony throughout the year, described by two gradients, one modelling the increase, and the other the decrease in rate of laying.
Abstract: SummaryA simple mathematical model is presented that predicts brood numbers within a honeybee colony throughout the year. Brood numbers are derived from the rate of egg laying by the queen, which is described by two gradients, one modelling the increase, and the other the decrease in rate of laying. This model produces results that compare favourably with observational data, and with those from a previously published, but more complicated, mathematical model.
TL;DR: In a test of replacement of queens in queenright colonies, mature queen cells (within about a day of queen emergence) were introduced into honey supers during the nectar flow in 1978 and significantly more queens emerged and significantly fewer cells were destroyed.
Abstract: SummaryIn a test of replacement of queens in queenright colonies, mature queen cells (within about a day of queen emergence) were introduced into honey supers during the nectar flow. In the period 1977–1979 a queen cell was introduced into each of 919 colonies. An examination made 5 days after cell introduction showed that queens had successfully emerged from 70·3% of the cells, while 11·1% of the cells had been destroyed, 5·7% contained dead queens, and 12·9% were not found. In a comparison of overwintered and package colonies in 1978, in overwintered colonies significantly more queens emerged (61% vs 44%) and significantly fewer cells were destroyed (8·9% vs 25%). Of 474 introductions in 1978–1979 only 12·7% resulted in successful requeening, whereas 53% of the resident queens were retained and 24% were replaced by new queens reared in the colonies.
TL;DR: The foraging drive for nectar of a population of honeybees at different times of day was estimated by counting numbers of bees foraging, or trying to forage, on an artificial source in which the supply of nectar was constant, unaffected by weather or other factors.
Abstract: SummaryThe foraging drive for nectar of a population of honeybees at different times of day was estimated by counting numbers of bees foraging, or trying to forage, on an artificial source in which the supply of nectar was constant, unaffected by weather or other factors. In winter and spring, foraging pressure remained uniform from one 15-day period to another so long as the temperature was above the threshold for flight. Moderately low temperatures increased foraging pressure, presumably by decreasing the rate of natural nectar secretion. Still lower temperatures decreased it by decreasing flight activity. In summer and autumn foraging pressure fell sharply at the beginning of the main nectar flow, and rose sharply at the end of it.