EFFECT OF CERTAIN METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS AND COLONY ACTIVITIES ON DRONE BROOD PRODUCTION AND DRONE FLIGHT ACTIVITY, AND ITS RELATION TO MATING OF HONEY BEE QUEENS

摘要

The relationships between produced drone brood and both of certain meteorological factors and the activities of honey bee colonies during natural growth period were studied. As well as, effect of four meteorological factors on drone flight activity and its relation to pre-oviposition period of queens during natural mating period were also studied. The present results showed that maximum amount of produced drone brood area was recorded on 7th March and the minimum value was at the end of May. Positivecorrelations were found between produced drone brood and both of bee population and produced worker brood, whereas these correlations were negative between drone brood and each of stored pollen, uncapped honey and capped honey. The correlation between drone brood area and daily temperature was negative, whereas it was positive with daily relative humidity. The all above-mentioned factors were effected on drone brood production by 85%. Significantly differences in drone flight activity were found amongmost day-hours. The maximum number of flight drones, during the whole natural mating period, was observed at 14,00 h, whereas it reached its minimum value at 11,00 h. Positive correlations were found between drone flight activity and both of daily relative humidity and sunshine hours, while the correlations between drone flight activity and both of daily temperature and wind velocity were negative. These factors effected on drone flight activity by 31.5%. The shortest pre-oviposition period was recorded on 1st of April, whereas the longest period was recorded on 1st of May, indicating that April can be consider the best time for queen mating.