| Autor: |
Kovačić M; Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia., Uzunov A; Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China., Tlak Gajger I; Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova ul. 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia., Pietropaoli M; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy., Soroker V; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, 68 HaMacabim Road, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel., Adjlane N; Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Boumerdes, 35000 Boumerdes, Algeria., Benko V; Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova ul. 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia., Charistos L; Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Sciences, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos 'DIMITRA', 63 200 Nea Moudania, Greece., Dall'Olio R; BeeSources, 40132 Bologna, Italy., Formato G; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy., Hatjina F; Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Sciences, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos 'DIMITRA', 63 200 Nea Moudania, Greece., Malagnini V; Fondazione Edmund Mach, Centro Trasferimento Tecnologico, Via E. Mach, 1 San Michele all'Adige, 38098 Trento, Italy., Freda F; Fondazione Edmund Mach, Centro Trasferimento Tecnologico, Via E. Mach, 1 San Michele all'Adige, 38098 Trento, Italy., Otmi A; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, 68 HaMacabim Road, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel., Puškadija Z; Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia., Villar C; Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha, 02600 Albacete, Spain., Büchler R; Hintergasse 30, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany. |
| Abstrakt: |
In this study, we investigated the effect of queen caging on honey bee colonies' post-treatment development and the optimal timing of method application on honey production during the main summer nectar flow. We conducted the study in nine apiaries (N = 9) across six Mediterranean countries, with a total of 178 colonies. The colonies were divided into three test groups: QC1, QC2, and C. The QC1 group involved queens caged for a total of 28 days before the expected harvesting day. In the QC2 group, queens were caged for 28 days, but only 14 days before the expected harvesting day. The C group consisted of queens that were not caged, and the colonies received common local treatments. In both the QC1 and QC2 groups, the colonies were treated with a 4.2% oxalic acid (OA) solution by trickling after the queen release. Our findings revealed no significant adverse effects ( p > 0.05) on colony strength at the end of the study resulting from queen caging. However, significantly lower amounts of honey were extracted from the QC1 group compared to both the QC2 group ( p = 0.001) and the C group ( p = 0.009). Although there were no initial differences in Varroa destructor infestation between the groups, ten weeks later, a significantly higher infestation was detected in the C group compared to both the QC1 group ( p < 0.01) and the QC2 group ( p = 0.003). Overall, our study demonstrates that queen caging, in combination with the use of OA, is an effective treatment for controlling V. destructor . However, the timing of caging plays a crucial role in honey production outcomes. |
