Comparison of the activity and productivity of Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) and Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica Ruttner) subspecies under environmental conditions of the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was conducted at the apiary of the Agricultural and Veterinary Training and Research Station of King Faisal University in the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia. We performed a comparison between Carniolan ( Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) and Yemeni ( Apis mellifera jemenitica Ruttner) honeybee races to determine the monthly fluctuations in foraging activity, pollen collection, colony growth and honey yield production under the environmental conditions of the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia. We found three peaks in the flight activity of the two races, and the largest peaks occurred during September and October. Compared to Carniolan bee colonies, the performance of Yemeni bee colonies was superior in terms of stored pollen, worker and drone brood rearing, and the adult population size. The Carniolan bee colonies produced 27.77% and 27.50% more honey than the Yemeni bee colonies during the flow seasons of alfalfa and sidir, respectively, with an average increase of 27.64%. It could be concluded that the race of bees is an important factor affecting the activity and productivity of honeybee colonies. The Yemeni bee race produced more pollen, a larger brood and more bees, which exhibited a longer survival. The imported Carniolan bees can be reared in eastern Saudi Arabia, but the Yemeni bee race is still better.

The relationship between comb age and performance of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

“…Strong positively correlation (p < 0.01) was found between stored pollen area with the number of returning workers with pollen loads (r = 0.93) and colony population size (r = 0.74). Our results confirmed by those obtained by Taha, 2015, Taha and Al-Kahtani, 2019 who found a positively correlation between stored pollen area and size of the colony population.…”

“…The activity and performance of the colony of the honey bee are influenced by several factors such as: nectar and pollen floral resource (Helal et al, 2003, Taha et al, 2006, Taha and Bayoumi, 2009, Awad et al, 2017), time of the year (Taha, 2000, Shawer et al, 2003, Taha, 2015, Taha and Al-Kahtani, 2019), colony population size (Taha and AL-Kahtani, 2013, Kasangaki et al, 2018), and bee species/subspecies (Taha et al, 2016, Awad et al, 2017, Taha and Al-Kahtani, 2019). In addition, the productivity of honey bee colonies has been affected by feeding on proteinaceous diets (Pokhrel et al, 2006, Mahmood et al, 2013, Taha, 2015, Puškadija et al, 2017).…”

Nectar and pollen sources for honeybees in Kafrelsheikh province of northern Egypt

“…Gradually increase occurred during July, and formed the third peak in August, then gradually and significantly (P < .01) decrease occurred from September to December. These results are confirmed by the findings of Shawer, 1987, Fathy, 1996, Shawer et al, 2003, Taha, 2005 in Egypt, Taha and Al-Kahtani (2019) in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Humyarie et al (1999) in Yemen who recorded the maximum area of stored pollen during May. Besides, Sattigi and Lingappa (1993) found the maximum area of stored pollen during March in India.…”

“…Besides, Sattigi and Lingappa (1993) found the maximum area of stored pollen during March in India. Three peaks of pollen collection were recorded during March, May and August in the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia (Taha and AL-Kahtani, 2013, Taha and Al-Kahtani, 2019, Taha, 2014, Taha, 2015a). On contrary, the maximum area of stored pollen was recorded during September in the Island of Hawaii (Arita and Fujii, 1992).…”

“…April considered a dearth period in Kafrelsheikh province because of the shortage of pollen and nectar floral resources, as a result of dried of most flowering plants after a short time in April. The decline in pollen collecting during April was recorded in Saudi Arabia (Taha, 2014, Taha and Al-Kahtani, 2019) due to the presence of bee-eater ( Merops spp.) birds in the apiary area (Ali and Taha, 2012).…”