Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Mihaela Liana FERICEAN, Mihaela OSTAN, Olga RADA, Mihaela IVAN, Mohamed ABDO, Silvia PRUNAR, Florin PRUNAR, Ioan BĂNĂŢEAN DUNEA
The hygienic behavior of honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) is a critical defensive mechanism for colony health, reducing the spread of diseases and infestations by parasites such as Varroa destructor. This study assessed the brood cleaning capacity of 10 honey bee colonies in two different locations from Western part of Romania (Arad County and Timis County) using a freeze-killed brood test. Honeycomb sections containing 100 dead brood cells were reintroduced into the hives, and the cleaning progress was monitored at predefined intervals (6, 12, 18, 24, 28, and 34 hours). Colonies with superior hygienic behavior cleaned over 90% of the cells within the first 24 hours, demonstrating significantly higher efficiency compared to colonies with reduced hygienic behaviour, which cleaned less than 50% of the cells. Statistical analyses (ANOVA, t-test, and linear regression) confirmed significant differences between the groups, with high-performing colonies showing a strong correlation between time and cleaning rate (R2 = 0.96). The results underscore the importance of hygienic behavior as a genetic trait for selection to improve the health and productivity of bee colonies. Colonies exhibiting superior hygienic performance are ideal candidates for breeding programs, contributing to reduced chemical treatment use and promoting sustainable beekeeping practices.
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