ABSTRACT. Characteristics correlated with beekeeping production, less influenced by the environment and that can be controlled by management techniques, can help in the selection of colonies with higher production capacity, aiming to improve breeding programs. This research was carried out to evaluate the production of Africanized Apis mellifera drones and the longevity of spermatozoa from different genetic groups when supplemented with protein or not. Two genetic groups were used: one selected for royal jelly production from the Africanized honeybee breeding program and another without genetic selection. In both groups, the number of drone brood and the quality of semen were evaluated every 30 days, for five months. Statistical analysis was performed using Bayesian Inference. Statistical difference was found for the drone production among the treatments, and colonies without genetic selection produced more males (187.80 ± 11.15) than the selected colonies (93.07 ± 8.88). The selected colonies for royal jelly production presented greater efficiency in the reproductive cycle of males, because they produced fewer drones than colonies without genetic selection, however, with 31% greater semen viability.

O objetivo foi analisar o nível de invasão do ácaro nas pupas, a taxa de infestação do ácaro nas abelhas adultas, as taxas de reprodução total e efetiva do ácaro em colônias de abelhas africanizadas e se esses níveis são influenciados pela produção de geleia real ou mel. As taxas de invasão nas pupas e infestação nas abelhas adultas não apresentaram diferença estatística entre os tratamentos, as médias para esses parâmetros foram 5,79 e 8,54%, respectivamente. As colônias submetidas à produção de mel apresentaram maior nível de reprodução total e efetiva (p < 0,05) do ácaro em relação às colônias produtoras de geleia real. Houve correlação negativa dos níveis de invasão nas pupas e infestação nas abelhas adultas com a temperatura externa mínima, umidade relativa do ar e precipitação. As variáveis mês e o período do ano influenciaram o desenvolvimento do parasita, entretanto, as taxas obtidas foram baixas e dentro dos valores normalmente encontrados no Brasil para abelhas africanizadas.

This study evaluated the level of invasion of Varroa mite into worker brood cells, the infestation rate on adult worker honeybees, total and effective reproduction rates of the mite in Africanized honeybee colonies under royal jelly or honey production. Invasion and infestation rates were not statistically different between honeybee colonies producing honey or royal jelly and the averages for these parameters were 5.79 and 8.54%, respectively. Colonies producing honey presented a higher (p < 0.05) total and effective reproduction of Varroathan colonies producing royal jelly. There was a negative correlation between levels of invasion and infestation with minimum external temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The variables month and season influenced the development of the mite, but rates were low and within the range normally found in Brazil for Africanized honeybee colonies, which confirm the greater resistance of these honeybees to Varroa destructor than European honeybees.

O objetivo do trabalho foi estimar peso vivo, comprimento e largura de asa e abdome e comprimento, largura e altura do tórax de rainhas Apis mellifera africanizadas recém-emergidas até 192h e sua influência na qualidade final com relação às técnicas apropriadas de armazenamento em banco de rainhas ou estufa e verificar se estes parâmetros podem ser utilizados como critério de seleção. Foram produzidas nas seguintes estações do ano: verão, outono e inverno. O método utilizado durante todo o experimento foi o adaptado de Doolitlle para a produção de rainhas e 68 rainhas foram pesadas à emersão. Os dados foram analisados no software R pela análise de regressão do peso da rainha à emergência em função do tempo de vida após a emersão, nos dois tipos de alojamento. Para peso, os efeitos da colmeia banco de rainhas e estufa foram significativos (p < 0,05), médias de 165,61 e 157,04 mg, respectivamente. As rainhas mantidas em estufa e colmeia banco de rainhas não apresentaram diferenças em relação ao comprimento da asa, ao comprimento do abdome e à altura do tórax. O peso de rainhas à emergência mantidas em colmeia banco de rainhas foi maior que o peso das rainhas mantidas em estufa. O peso das rainhas à emergência pode ser utilizado como critério de seleção.

This study aimed to estimate live weight, the length and the width of wing and abdomen and the length, the width and the height of thorax in newly emerged Africanized honeybee queens up to 192 hours and their influence on final quality regarding appropriate storage techniques in queen banking or incubator and to verify the possibility of using these parameters as selection criteria in honeybee breeding programs. Queen honeybees were produced in summer, autumn and winter. The queen production method used throughout the experiments was adapted from Doolittle, and 68 the queens were weighed at emergence. Data were analyzed in R software by regression analysis of queen weight at emergence according to life time after emergence, in two types of storage. The weight of queens emerged in queen banking and incubator was significantly different (p < 0.05), with mean values of 165.61 and 157.04 mg, respectively. Queens kept in an incubator and in queen banking showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in wing length, abdomen length and thorax height. The weight of queen at emergence can be used as a selection criterion in honeybee breeding programs.

El presente trabajo se llevó a cabo en el Centro Universitario Moura Lacerda, Ribeirão Preto, SP, y tuvo como objetivo estudiar el comportamiento y la frecuencia de alimentación de las abejas y otros insectos en las flores de algodón (Gossypium hirsutum L.), así como el tipo de colección (néctar y/o polen) de estos insectos en las flores. La plantación estuvo bajo observación desde marzo de 2010, durante los primeros diez minutos en cada hora, de 6:00 a 18:00, con tres repeticiones (días diferentes). Los insectos que se encontraron en las flores de algodón fueron las abejas Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em um 36,7%, seguida por las abejas Exomalopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae), 16,3%; escarabajo Astylus variegatus (Coleoptera) em un 12,5%; otros himenópteros (11%); Hemiptera (9%); escarabajo Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera) em un 7,1%; vespídeos (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) em um 4,1% y las moscas (Diptera) em un 3,3%. Las abejas A. mellifera visitaron las flores de algodón, principalmente para recoger el pólen (63,0%) en comparación con el néctar (37,0%). Para recoger el polen las abejas visitaron las flores de 06:00 a 13:00, con una frecuencia máxima entre las 8:00 y las 11:00. Para recolectar el néctar, las abejas visitaron las flores em las horas desde 10:00 hasta 18:00, con una frecuencia máxima entre las 13h00 y 14h00. La abeja A. mellifera, la abeja Exomalopsis sp y el escarabajo A. variegatus actuaron como polinizadores efectivos de la plantación de algodón

This experiment was conducted at the Centro Universitario Moura Lacerda, Ribeirão Preto, SP, and aimed to study the frequency and behavior of insects visiting the fl owers of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as well as the collection type (nectar and / or pollen) of insects on fl owers. For this, the culture was observed in March 2010, the fi rst ten minutes in each hour, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, with three replicates (different days). The insects found in cotton fl owers were Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae; 36.7%), followed by stingless bees Exomalopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae; 16.3%), beetles Astylus variegatus (Coleoptera), other Hymenoptera (11%), Hemiptera (9%), beetle Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera; 7.1%), wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; 4.1%) and fl ies (Diptera; 3.3%). The Africanized honey bees visited the fl owers mainly to collect pollen. When collecting nectar from fl owers, this bee played the stamens carrying pollen from fl ower to fl ower characterizing it as an effective pollinator in cotton crop. Africanized honey bees preferred to collect pollen (63.0%) than nectar (37.0%) in these fl owers. For pollen, these bees visited the fl owers from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm, with a peak frequency between 8:00 am and 11:00 am. To collect nectar, these insects visited the fl owers from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a peak frequency between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. The Africanized honey bee, stingless bees Exomalopsis sp and beetles A. variegatus were considered pollinators effectives on cotton culture

Este experimento foi conduzido no Centro Universitário Moura Lacerda, Ribeirão Preto, SP, e teve como objetivos estudar a freqüência e o comportamento forrageiro de abelhas e outros insetos nas flores do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.), bem como o tipo de coleta (néctar e/ou pólen) desses insetos nas flores. Para isso, a cultura fi cou em observação em março de 2010, nos primeiros dez minutos em cada horário, das 6h00 às 18h00, com três repetições (dias distintos). Os insetos observados nas flores do algodoeiro foram abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas (Hymenoptera: Apidae; 36,7%), seguidas por abelhas Exomalopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae; 16,3%), besouros Astylus variegatus (Coleoptera; 12,5%), outros himenópteros (11%), hemípteros (9%), besouro brasileirinho Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera; 7,1%), vespídeos (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; 4,1%) e dípteros (Diptera; 3,3%). A abelha africanizada visitou as flores para coletar principalmente pólen. Ao coletar o néctar das flores, ela tocava os estames, carregando o pólen de fl or em fl or e preferiram coletar pólen (63,0%) comparado ao néctar (37,0%) nas flores do algodoeiro. Para coleta de pólen, essas abelhas visitaram as flores das 6h00 às 13h00, com um pico de frequência entre 8h00 e 11h00. Para coleta de néctar, as abelhas visitaram as flores das 10h00 às 18h00, com um pico de freqüência entre 13h00 e 14h00. A abelha africanizada, a abelha Exomalopsis sp e o besouro A. variegatus atuaram como polinizadores efetivos da cultura

Genetic and phenotypic parameters considering the genetic effect on hygienic behavior of queen and workers from 40 Africanized honeybees colonies were estimated separately. Maternal origin of queens was controlled whereas the paternal was unknown, and different groups of workers were considered in three seasons, October 2006, April 2007 and August 2007, but with the same queen. Colonies were 21 honey producers and 19 royal jelly producers. After the method of freezing capped brood, hygienic behavior was determined by the ratio between the number of dead capped brood removed at 24, 48 and 72 hours and the total number of capped brood at zero hour. Data was submitted to single and three traits analyses using Bayesian inference. Estimates of direct heritability at 24, 48 and 72 hours (0.10, 0.11 and 0.11) were identical to the motherly ones. Estimates by three trait analysis of direct heritability were 0.28, 0.15, 0.24, and of maternal heritability were 0.23, 0.29, 0.27, at 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Correlations between maternal and genetic effects were 0.12, 0.09 and - 0.08 at, 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Correlation between 24 and 48 hours was 0.49; between 24 and 72 hours, 0.40; and between 48 and 72 hours, 0.47. Moderate genetic correlations with the number of capped brood removed until 48 and 72 hours indicate that after the selection of a few generations, these traits can become an efficient criterion for selection in 24 hours.