Meteorological factors and development time for the larva-imago stage of africanized honey bee queens (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera apidae)

Authors

  • Etelvina Conceição Almeida da Silva Instituto de Zootecnia, Centro de Apicultura Tropical, Nova Odessa, SP
  • José Chaud Netto Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia, Rio Claro, SP
  • Augusta Carolina de Camargo Carmello Moreti Instituto de Zootecnia, Centro de Apicultura Tropical, Nova Odessa, SP
  • ronaldo Mário Barbosa da Silva Instituto de Zootecnia, Centro de Apicultura Tropical, Nova Odessa, SP

Keywords:

Apis mellifera, queen bee, meteorological factors, africanized honey bees

Abstract

The impact of meteorological conditions on development time for the larva-imago stage and the percentage of emerged queens of Africanized honey bees under Tropical climate was checked through correlation with season meteorological conditions prevailing during breeding. Data were set as twelve-day (precocious) queens, plus the percentage of total emergence of queens. The used meteorological data were atmospheric pressure, temperatures (minimum, average and maximum), relative humidity, wind velocity, cloudiness, evaporation, rainfall and insolation. This evaluation study comprised sixteen (16) queen production cycles performed from August, 1990 through August 1992 at the Centro de Apicultura Tropical, in Pindamonhangaba, SP (22º57'S, 42º27'W; 560 elevation). There had been negative correlation between the Queen development period and maximum and average temperatures, respectively (r = -0,76) and (r = -0,48; p < 0,05); and between development period and pluviometric indexes (r = 0,53; p < 0,05). The correlation between total emergence of queens and atmospheric pressure was also negative (r = -0,57; p < 0,05). On the other hand, the total emergence percentage and maximum and average temperatures correlation were positive (r = 0,63) and (r = 0,53), respectively (p < 0,05). The pluviometric indexes have had positive correlation with maximum (r = 0,65), minimum (r = 0,68) and average (r = 0,67) temperatures (p < 0,05) - that is, rains usually have followed temperature elevation; and the atmospheric pressure has correlated negatively towards maximum (r = -0,71) and average (r = -0,85) temperatures. Thus, one can suppose that the major meteorological factor for this phase of queen development is temperature: when temperature raises, the average larva-imago period diminishes, thus increasing the ratio of precocious queens - which leads us to recommend the warmer seasons to carry out this activity.

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Published

2014-01-14

Issue

Section

FORAGE CROPS AND PASTURES

How to Cite

Meteorological factors and development time for the larva-imago stage of africanized honey bee queens (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera apidae). (2014). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 53, 117-122. http://bia.iz.sp.gov.br/index.php/bia/article/view/1002

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