Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 1, January-Febuary 2000
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 67 - 79 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000107 | |
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000107
Apidologie 31 (2000) 67-79
Colony evaluation is not affected by drifting of drone and worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) at a performance testing apiary
Peter Neumann
,
Robin F.A. Moritz
,
Dieter Mautz
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South
Africa
Molekulare Ökologie, Institut für Zoologie, Martin-Luther-Universität
Halle-Wittenberg, Kröllwitzerstr. 44, 06099 Halle/Saale, Germany
Bayerische Landesanstalt für Bienenzucht, Burgbergstr. 70, 91054 Erlangen,
Germany
(Received 12 February 1999; revised 23 August 1999; accepted 14 September 1999)
Abstract:
The impact of drifting workers and drones on evaluating performance data of honeybee
(Apis mellifera carnica) colonies was studied using DNA microsatellites. Colony size,
honey yield and colony level of infestation with Varroa jacobsoni were evaluated from
30 queenright colonies. Individuals (n = 1359 workers from 38 colonies, n = 449 drones
from 14 colonies) were genotyped using four DNA microsatellite loci. Maternity testing was
used to identify drifted individuals. The drifting of workers ranged from 0 to 14% with an
average of 
%. The amount of drifting drones was significantly higher ranging from
3 to 89% (average of
). No significant correlations were observed between the
amount of drifting and colony sizes. Likewise, the correlations between drifting workers and
drones with the phenotypic variance for colony honey yields and levels of infestation with
V. jacobsoni were weak and in no case significant. Thus, the low levels of drifting
workers (due to performance apiary layout) and the high levels of drifting drones did not
interfere with performance testing in this study.
%. The amount of drifting drones was significantly higher ranging from
3 to 89% (average of
). No significant correlations were observed between the
amount of drifting and colony sizes. Likewise, the correlations between drifting workers and
drones with the phenotypic variance for colony honey yields and levels of infestation with
V. jacobsoni were weak and in no case significant. Thus, the low levels of drifting
workers (due to performance apiary layout) and the high levels of drifting drones did not
interfere with performance testing in this study.
Apis mellifera / drifting / honeybee / performance / Varroa jacobsoni
Correspondence and reprints: Robin F.A. Moritz
r.moritz@zoologie.uni-halle.de
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