Performance of Apis mellifera L. Colonies Developed from Artificially and Naturally Inseminated Queens

Abstract

A comparative study between artificially and naturally inseminated queens of Apis mellifera L. colonies was recorded in the apiary and under laboratory condition of Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat from September’2015 to March’2018.The selection studies were carried out from April, 2015 to January, 2016 from 99 colonies of A. mellifera L. and ten viable colonies were selected which were later used for preparation of queen and collection of drones. Comparative performance between artificially inseminated (AI) and naturally inseminated (NI) colonies of A. mellifera L. in the year 2016-17 revealed that brood area (3151.1±86.3 sq.cm in AI and 2966.8±89.3 sq.cm in NI), pollen area (798.4±75.2sq.cm in AI and 622.8±40.4sq.cm in NI) and nectar area (1626.9±131.8sq.cm in AI and 1421.7±126.9sq.cm in NI) have significant difference in all the months. Similarly, in the year 2017-18, brood area (3155.4±92.1sq.cm in AI and 3015.08±86.9 sq.cm in NI), pollen area (742.3±42.03sq.cm in AI and 651.4±40.4sq.cm in NI) and nectar area (1589.3±130.0sq.cm in AI and 1471.3±130.6sq.cm in NI) have significant difference in all the months. In 2016-17, the pollination efficiency (9.2±0.4mg and 7.1±0.4mg pollen load in AI and NI, respectively) has significant difference between AI and NI colonies in all the months except for May, December, January and February. Whereas, in 2017-18, pollination efficiency (9.1±0.5mg and 7.5±0.4mg pollen load in AI and NI, respectively) has significant difference in all the months except for October and March. Honey yield (3.75±.11 sq.cm in AI and 3.27±.10sq.cm in NI) showed significant difference in April, May, June, December, January and February during 2016-17 and in 2017-18, honey yield (3.89±.11 sq.cm in AI and 3.38±.10 sq.cm in NI)  revealed significant difference between AI and NI colonies in May, June, December, January and February. Therefore, in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, the performance of AI colonies was significantly higher than NI colonies.