Determiming the Performances of Honeybees, Pure Bred Caucasian, Anatolian and Their Reciprocal Crosses under Nomad Beekeeping Conditions

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the brood production, development of adult worker bee population and honey yield of pure bred Caucasian (Apis mellifera Caucasica) (C (female male)), Anatolian (A (female male) (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) honeybees and their reciprocal crosses (C (male) x A (female) and A (female) x C (male)) under nomad beekeeping conditions in Central and South-East Anatolia with coastal side of East Mediterranean region of Turkey. All Queens were reared in same apiary, with same methods and at the same time. All of them were instrumentally inseminated. Average number of frames, covered with bees, of 10 measuring times between 25th April and 31st October, in C (female male), A (female male), C (female) x A (male) and A (female) x C (male) genotypes were found to be 11.6 +/- 0.4, 17.2 +/- 0.9, 11.5 +/- 0.5 and 17.8 +/- 1.0 number/colony and the brood areas 3754.2 +/- 340.8, 5425.1 +/- 416.9, 3742.6 +/- 323.8 and 5194.8 +/- 428.7 cm(2) colony(-1) were found, respectively. The total average honey yields for 4 groups were found as 36.3 +/- 3.5; 43.9 +/- 4.1; 33.1 +/- 3.5 and 55.3 +/- 4.5 kg colony(-1), respectively in 3 different ecological regions. There were found significant differences (p<0.01) among the groups with respect to on frames covered with bees, brood area and the honey yields. There were calculated high and significant (p<0.01) correlations (r = 0.85, r = 0.82) between frames covered with bees, brood areas and honey yield.