Title: | Honey Bee Colonies (Apis mellifera L.) Perform Orientation Defensiveness That Varies among Bred Lines |
Author(s): | Akongte PN; Park BS; Kim DW; Choi YS; |
Address: | "Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Yaounde 2123, Cameroon" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2075-4450 (Print) 2075-4450 (Electronic) 2075-4450 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) express complex behavioral patterns (aggressiveness) in defensive mechanisms for their survival. Their phenotypic expression of defensive behavior is influenced by internal and external stimuli. Knowledge of this behavior has recently become increasingly important, though beekeepers are still faced with the challenges of selecting defensive and less-defensive bred lines. Field evaluation of defensive behavior among bred lines of honey bees is required to overcome the challenges. Chemical cues (alarm pheromone and isopentyl acetate mixed with paraffin oil) and physical and visual stimuli (dark leather suede, colony marbling, and suede jiggling) were used to evaluate defensiveness and orientation among five bred lines of honeybee colonies. Our results showed that both chemical assays recruited bees, but the time of recruitment was significantly faster for alarm pheromone. Honeybees' response to both assays culminated in stings that differed among bred lines for alarm pheromone and paraffin when colonies were marbled. Honeybee orientation defensiveness varied among bred lines and was higher in more defensive bred lines compared to less-defensive bred lines. Our findings suggest that it is crucial to repeatedly evaluate orientation defensiveness at the colony level and among bred lines when selecting breeding colonies" |
Keywords: | Apis mellifera L.chemical pheromone controlled breeding defensive behavior honey bee bred lines; |
Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEAkongte, Peter Njukang Park, Bo-Sun Kim, Dong-Won Choi, Yong-Soo eng PJ01418001/Rural Development Administration/ Switzerland 2023/06/27 Insects. 2023 Jun 12; 14(6):546. doi: 10.3390/insects14060546" |