Effect of queen bee's age on the extent of brood area and acacia honey production in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in Hungary

摘要

Our examination was conducted to determine the effects of age of queen bees on the size of brood area (cm2) and acacia honey production of honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica pannonica) colonies under conventional beekeeping conditions. The performance of experimental colonies, which had 1-, 2- and 3-year-old queens, were compared. Their brood areas (cm2) and acacia honey yield (kg/colony) were determined. The total average brood production in group 2015, group 2016 and group 2017 was 4680.0±958.8, 6170.5±1061.1 and 8081.6±2091.0; total average black locust honey yield was 14.4a±2.5, 19.6a±1.9 and 24.8C±2.2 kg/ colony. A significant and negative correlation was found between the age of queen bees and brood production (r=-0.719) and honey yield (r=-0.885). The colonies which were headed by the younger queen bees (group 2017) had larger brood areas and black locust honey production in comparison to colonies with older queen bees (group 2015 and 2016).