Foraging initiation and foraging behavior in high and low performance of Iranian honeybee, Apis mellifera meda (Hym.: Apidae), colonies

Abstract

The starting of foraging is likely the most important phenomenon in the age based division of labor in honeybees. It also prepare one of the most complicated phenotypic trait in biological system since the intercourse of different external, social and personage factors. Pollination effect is related to foraging behavior and foragers' population, so this research aims to determine foraging initiation and foraging behavior of worker bees in high and low performance colonies. There is a significant correlation between foraging behavior and honey production in different colonies and in various regions. Early foraging leads to higher production of honey in a colony. Also‚ based on the results obtained, the peak of foraging initiation in high performance colony was longer (age of 16-23 day) and in low performance colony was shorter (age of 17-21day). The results indicate that the retuned bees (P < 0.05) and returned bees with pollen load (P < 0.05) in high production colonies are more than low production colonies. Results have shown differences in the age of first foraging (AFF) comparing to previous studies‚ in which represented AFF starts 21 days after birthday of worker foragers. Obtained results have shown that the number of forager bees has positive correlation with honey production in honeybee colonies and also AFF of high production colonies was started in earlier age that can due to higher production in these colonies.

Keywords

• iran
• honey bee
• foraging initiation
• high performance
• low performance