BIOLOGICAL AND BUSINESS ASSESSMENT OF HONEY BEE COLONIES (APIS MELLIFERA L.) IN SOME AREAS OF THE TOMSK REGION

One of critical goals of today's bee-farming is to increase efficiency of bee colonies, as their main features are winter survival and honey productivity. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to conduct biological and business assessment of honey bee colonies, identification of purebred bee colonies and breeding of high-productive queens. In order to examine honey bee strains and locate reservation areas of dark forest bees, we studied basic exterior traits of bees from farms located in several areas of Tomsk. In integrated assessment of bee colonies the study took into account economically important features and the morphological features that show bee strain belonging.Bees with the Mid-Russia bee's features were only found in the south of the oblast. Average values of morphological features (cubital index and proboscis length) are as follows: 62,29±1,33% and 6,05±0,05 mm in the Dubrovka village; 58,21±1,86% and 5,76±0,08 mm in the vicinity of the Kornilovo village: 59,80±1,40% and 5,69±0,01 mm respectively around the station «41 km». The short proboscis is a distinctive feature of bees in the Tomsk Oblast. It is typical of species with the Mid-Russia bee's features, as well as mongrel bees.Economically important features of bees such as production of honey, winter survival and swarming were studied at bee farms in the Podgornoe village (Chainsky District) and the Kornilovo village (Tomsk District). In Podgornoe the integrated assessment revealed a bee colony suitable for breeding. The research demonstrated the influence of meteorological conditions and colony strength on honey yield. It is intended to cultivate purebred Mid-Russia bees that are suitable for natural conditions of Siberia, which will increase bee-farming efficiency.

Keywords

Authors

References