The effect of vitamin C on maturation, mating and egg-laying ages of Iranian honey bee queens (Apis mellifera meda)

Document Type : Research paper-Persian

Authors

1 M.Sc., Islamic Azad University of Maragheh

2 Department of Honey Bee, Animal Science Research institute of Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Islamic Azad University of Maragheh

Abstract

Background and objectives
Vitamin C has an essential role in brood rearing and adult development in different insects. In general, vitamins are considered an important subject in honey bee nutrition and are necessary for brood development. Vitamin C is one of the most essential vitamins for the majority of herbivorous insects such as honey bee, and plays an important role in its life.
Materials and Methods
The effects of the vitamin C diet was investigated on queen rearing stages and also on the maturity development, mating age and commence of egg-laying period of queens in Karaj, Iran. Thirty honey bee colonies (N=30) were randomly fed with one liter of syrup (1:1) in 5 treatments consisted of different levels of vitamin C: 1) 750 ppm, 2) 1500 ppm, 3) 2250 ppm, 4) 3000 ppm, and 5) vitamin-free as control, with six replicates. Colonies were fed through two-day intervals after queen cells introduction in mating colonies. The queen’s body size, presence of mating sign and one-day eggs were inspected daily and recorded during the experiment period.
Results and Discussion
Results showed no significant differences on maturity duration and mating age in queens fed with vitamin C. However, based on Duncan’s multiple range tests, treatments fed with higher levels of vitamin C were located in different groups in comparison with lower levels. Our results also showed that egg laying stage appeared sooner in colonies fed with vitamin C. Considering that the mating stage (maturation age copulation and egg laying) is the most costly queen rearing process, using the results of this research can reduce the queen's mating phase and the cost of queen rearing in Iran.

Keywords

References

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Plant Protection (Scientific Journal of Agriculture)
Volume 42, Issue 2
September 2019
Pages 85-95

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