Abstract

TAPIA-GONZALEZ, José et al. Climatic, regional, and bee brood quantity influences on the hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera. Abanico vet [online]. 2021, vol.11, e115.  Epub Oct 11, 2021. ISSN 2448-6132.  https://doi.org/10.21929/abavet2021.20.

The hygienic behavior of honeybees (Apis mellífera) is a mechanism highly influenced by genetic effects that confers resistance against diseases and parasites. The objective of this study was to determine whether climatic, regional and brood quantity influences are related to hygienic behavior in beehives in Jalisco state, Mexico. Freezing pupae with liquid nitrogen in two climatic zones (mountain and valley) evaluated 142 colonies. Colonies located in the municipalities of the low zone removed significantly more frozen brood than the colonies located in the municipalities of the higher zone (p <0.001), and these differences were significantly correlated with environmental temperature (r = 0.25, p <0.01) and altitude above sea level (r =- 0.27, p <0.001). It was also found that in the warmer, lower altitude region, one third of the colonies were highly hygienic (> 80 %). This degree of cleanliness is acceptable for initiating selective breeding projects for highly hygienic bees to improve colony health, which would benefit the beekeeping industry.

Keywords : Apis mellífera; hygienic behavior; reproduction; climate; altitude.

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