Determination of the Effects of Bee Venom Production on Aggression Behaviour and Colony Development Parameters in Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies

Öz

Honeybee venom is a high value-added bee product obtained from honeybee colonies, which has therapeutic properties due to its high biological activity. However, there are limited studies on the bee venom production process. In this study, behavioural characteristics of colonies in bee venom production were examined bidirectionally to reveal the behavioural effect in the production process. It was found that the level of aggression of the colonies affected the quantity of bee venom produced and that aggressive behaviour changed before and after production in colonies used in venom production. During the research, the development of the colony population and the effectiveness of environmental factors were evaluated before and after the venom production period. In the experiment, 20 honeybee colonies with the same queen age and similar size in terms of worker bee population were divided into 15 treatment groups and 5 control groups. The research was conducted between the months of July-October. Bee venom production in the treatment colonies was performed using a bee venom production machine operating on the electroshock principle. In all experimental colonies, three aggression tests were performed: pre-production, post-production and 24 hours after production while control group colonies were tested for aggression at parallel times. Colony growth parameters were measured during the study period. The results of the study indicated a negative correlation between the level of aggression displayed by the colonies in bee venom production and the amount of venom produced. The results showed that bee venom production led to an increase in aggression behaviour the colonies and resulting in a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in colony population development. The results of the study showed the importance of planning the colony management practices considering that the aggressive behaviour will increase during the venom production process. In addition, the results of the study reveal that colony development varies with the effect of environmental factors and seasonal cycle.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Honeybee
• Bee venom production
• Electroshock method
• Colony defence
• Colony development

Destekleyen Kurum

Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

Proje Numarası

27407

Etik Beyan

There is no need to obtain permission from the ethics committee for this study.

Teşekkür

This study was supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit as Scientific Research Project No. 27407.

Bal Arısı (Apis mellifera L.) Kolonilerinde Arı Zehri Üretiminin Hırçınlık Davranışı ve Koloni Gelişim Parametreleri Üzerine Etkilerinin Belirlenmesi

Öz

Arı zehri, bal arısı kolonilerinden üretilen, sahip olduğu yüksek biyolojik aktivitesiyle terapötik özelliklere ve yüksek katma değere sahip bir üründür. Ancak arı zehri üretimi süreciyle ilgili çalışmalar kısıtlı düzeyde bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, arı zehri üretiminde kolonilerin davranışsal özelliklerinden hırçınlık davranışı çift yönlü bir şekilde incelenerek üretim sürecinde davranışsal etkinin ortaya konulması hedeflenmiştir. Bu amaçla, arı zehri miktarına kolonilerin hırçınlık seviyelerinin etkisi, zehir üretiminde kullanılan kolonilerin üretim öncesinde ve sonrasında hırçınlık davranışı değişimi ele alınmıştır. Araştırma süresince, zehir üretim dönemi öncesi ve sonrasındaki süreçlerde koloni popülasyon gelişimleri ile çevresel faktörlerin etkinliği değerlendirilmiştir. Denemede, aynı ana arı yaşına sahip ve işçi arı popülasyonu bakımından benzer büyüklükte 20 adet bal arısı kolonisinin 15’i uygulama grubu, 5’i kontrol grubu olarak ayrılmıştır. Temmuz-Ekim ayları arasında zehir üretimi yapılarak veriler elde edilmiştir. Uygulama kolonilerinde elektroşok yöntemi prensibiyle çalışan kovan üstü arı zehri üretim makinesi kullanılmıştır. Deneme kolonilerinin hepsine üretim öncesi, üretimin hemen sonrası ve üretimden 24 saat sonra olacak şekilde üçer kez hırçınlık testi uygulanmıştır. Kontrol grubu kolonilerinde zehir üretimi yapılmadan uygulama grubu kolonileriyle paralel zamanlarda hırçınlık testi uygulanmıştır. Deneme sürecinde koloni gelişim parametreleri kaydedilmiştir. Çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlara göre, arı zehri üretiminde kolonilerin hırçınlık düzeyleri ile zehir miktarları arasında negatif bir korelasyon bulunduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Arı zehri üretiminin kolonilerde hırçınlık davranışını artırdığı ve koloni popülasyon gelişimlerinde istatistik olarak önemli (p<0.05) düzeyde farklılığa yol açtığı saptanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar, zehir üretim sürecinde kolonilerde artan hırçınlık davranışı dikkate alınarak kolonilerin bakım ve yönetim uygulamalarının planlanmasının önemini, koloni gelişimlerinin çevresel faktörler ve mevsimsel döngünün etkisiyle farklılık gösterdiği ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bal arısı
• Arı zehri üretimi
• Elektroşok yöntemi
• Koloni savunması
• Koloni gelişimi

Destekleyen Kurum

Ege Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Proje Numarası

27407

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma için etik kuruldan izin alınmasına gerek yoktur.

Teşekkür

This study was supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit as Scientific Research Project No. 27407.

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