Honey is a natural substance produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) enjoyed by people due to its unique nutritional and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical parameters (moisture, ash, water-insoluble content, reducing sugars, sucrose, free acidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural, and electrical conductivity) and microbiological status (total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total number of sulfite-reducing clostridia, the presence of Salmonella spp., total numbers of fungi and yeasts and the presence of Clostridium botulinum) in honey (honeydew, blossom, sunflower, acacia, and linden) produced in an urban environment in Serbia. We analyzed 19 apiary samples of honey, collected during the 2011 harvesting season, by using recommendation methods. Physicochemical parameters of the examined honey produced in the urban environment indicated the honeys were of acceptable quality. Bacillus spp. were detected in four honeys, yeasts were detected in three honeys, and Clostridium botulinum type E was detected in one honey using PCR. The current study also showed the presence of diverse honey varieties in Serbia.

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 Pešter and Kopaonik mountains, in Knjaževac environ and Banat region. Fifty bees with characteristic morphology were sampled from each colony. Colony behaviour 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. Pešter, were problematic for handling. Robbing depended significantly on colony strength and disposition, especially in weaker and calmer ones.

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The strength of honey bee colonies during year depends on wintering and on biologic development of colonies during spring period. To ensure satisfactory colony development in spring period, it is necessary to add stimulative feed. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of different types of spring feed on the honey bee colony strength. Twenty honey bee colonies were selected for this experiment. Colonies were divided into five groups, and each group received different stimulative feed. The first group was fed with sugar syrup, and the second with sugar syrup with added microelements and with vitamin complex. The third group received sugar candy without additives, and the fourth group received sugar candy with addition of microelements and vitamins. The fifth group was fed with honey. The experiment was conducted on the apiary of the Institute for forage crops in Kruševac.