This study aimed to investigate some of the morphological and reproductive characteristics of the queen honey bees rearing from emergency queen cells and larvae grafting method. The weight at the emergence of queens reared from one-day larvae was found to be higher than other groups (P <0.05). Morphological characteristics of queens according to rearing method showed significant differences of head width, forewing length and forewing width (P <0.05), whereas other morphological characteristics were found similar in different queen groups. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of cell length and width (P > 0.05). Wet ovary weights of the queens were weighed at 45, 51, and 49 mg rearing from emergency cells, 1-day-old and 2-day-old larvae, respectively. The number of ovarioles and spermatheca diameter of queens were found to be 268 and 1.14 mm, 296 and 1.21 mm, 285, and 1.16 mm rearing from emergency cells, 1-day-old and 2-day-old larvae, respectively (P <0.05). Consequently, the morphological and reproductive characteristics of queens reared from one-day-old larvae have higher values. According to the results of the study, although some morphological and reproductive features of local queens have low values, their importance should not be ignored in the sustainable future of beekeeping.

Çalışmada, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi'nde arıcılık aktivitelerinin ve öncelikle bal olmak üzere arıcılık ürünlerinin tüketim alışkanlıklarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa ve Şırnak illerinde Arı Yetiştiricileri Birliğine kayıtlı arıcılar ile anket yapılmıştır. Ankete katılan arıcıların yaş ortalaması 45.7 yıl ve ana gelir kaynağı arıcılık olanlar %66.2 oranındadır. Arıcıların %77.8'i gezginci arıcılık yapmaktadır. Bal verimi bakımından 16.8 kg/koloni ile en yüksek ortalama Şanlıurfa ilinde, 6.83 kg/koloni ile en düşük ortalama Şırnak ilinde elde edilmiştir (P<0.01). Ankete katılan arıcıların mesleki deneyim süreleri, yetiştiriciliğini yaptıkları arı ırkı ve eğitim durumları, koloni başına bal verimini etkilememektedir (P>0.05).

The study was carried out in 2021 to examine infection rates with the new coronavirus (COVID-19), consumption of beekeeping products and beekeeping activities for the beekeepers who are directly exposed to bee venom or the ones who consume different beekeeping products during the pandemic period. At the same time, the rates of beekeepers affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection were also determined. Approximately 90% of the beekeepers (n = 147) who participated in the survey reported that they were not affected by SARS-CoV-2. Those not infected with COVID-19 (n = 134) had been beekeepers for an average of 17.85 years and they went to their apiary once a week (79.1%). They did not apply any treatment against bee stings (80.6%). Their personal honey consumption per month was between 750-1000 g (41.8%) and they consumed the most pollen among other beekeeping products (58.2%). The number of beekeepers who were not infected with COVID-19 was 21 (15.7%) although they contacted family members infected. There were no statistical differences in terms of AB0-blood types between the beekeepers who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, those who were not infected despite close contact the infected family members, and those who were not infected (P > 0.05). Approximately 76% of the beekeepers (n = 147) who participated in the survey and 53% of the beekeepers (n = 13) infected with the SARS-CoV-2 stated that their beekeeping activities were not affected by the pandemic. During the pandemic, the products most demanded by consumers from these beekeepers were honey, pollen and propolis, respectively. This study revealed that the beekeeping activities and the consumption habits of beekeeping products by the beekeepers during the pandemic were not affected.

No abstract

It was aimed to determine the physiological and behavioral characteristics of the local honey bee genotype, which has been adapted to Şanlıurfa's climate and ecological conditions. Some physiological and behavioural characteristics such as the number of the frames covered with bees, development of brood areas, flight activity, honey production, overwintering success, swarming tendency, aggression and hygienic behaviour of the colonies established from queen bees produced from a breeding colony which represents Şanlıurfa local honey bees were determined. Queens were divided into two categories according to the emerging weights as light and heavy groups. The number of the frames covered with bees and the development of the brood areas were evaluated in 6 different periods. Some characteristics such as swarming tendency and aggression were determined in 3 different periods. The average emergence weight values were determined to be 170.36±2.688 mg for the light group and 211.67±5.523 mg for the heavy group (P<0.01). The average number of the frames covered with bees for the light and heavy groups were found as 3.56±0.103 and 3.07±0.098 respectively (P<0.05). The average brood areas were determined to be 1069.56±79.676 cm 2 for the light group and 823.89±79.333 cm 2 for the heavy group (P<0.05). The average flight activity number was 15.00±1.991 for the light group and 14.407±2.201 for the heavy group (P>0.05). The average value in terms of aggression was 3.21±0.330 pcs/min for the light group and 2.48±0.365 pcs/min for the heavy group (P>0.05). The average number of the cleaned brood cells for the hygienic behaviour test was determined to be 95.6±5.58 for the light group and 78.8±17.97 for the heavy group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the light and heavy groups with respect to average honey production values (P>0.05). The overwintering abilities were determined to be 46% for the light group and 83% for the heavy group. The vitality rate of honey bees during the trial was 86.95%.