Open AccessMorphological and production characteristics of carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Poll.) from different parts of Serbia
Author(s) -
G. Jevtić,
Marko Mladenović,
Z. Lugić,
D. Sokolović
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biotechnology in animal husbandry/biotechnology in animal husbandry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2217-7140
pISSN - 1450-9156
DOI - 10.2298/bah0701609j
Subject(s) - ecotype , swarming (honey bee) , biology , honey bee , hymenoptera , ecology , zoology
Morphological and production characteristics of honey bee colonies from six regions in Serbia were examined in a two-year study. The colonies were sampled in the valleys of the Rasina and Morava rivers, on Pester and Kopaonik mountains, in Knjazevac environ and Banat region. Fifty bees with characteristic morphology were sampled from each colony. Colony behavior was evaluated during spring and autumn inspection in 2002 and 2003. Colonies of the Rasina ecotype were found to have the highest average values of three of the six investigated morphological parameters: basitarsus length and width, and tarsal index. The Morava ecotype had the longest proboscis (tongue), Banat ecotype the longest wings, while Timok colonies had the greatest wing width. Swarming instinct was greatly influenced by climatic factors. Colony disposition was found to depend crucially on the geographic factor. Colonies of the Kopaonik ecotype, and especially those from Mt. Pester, were problematic for handling. Robbing depended significantly on colony strength and disposition, especially in weaker and calmer ones.