Royal jelly production in East Africa: performance potential of the honey bees, Apis mellifera scutellata and Apis mellifera monticola in Kenya

SUMMARY

This is the first study to evaluate the royal jelly production potential of two honey bee races in Kenya, Apis mellifera monticola and Apis mellifera scutellata. No significant differences were observed in cell acceptance rates and royal jelly yields between the two races. However, the age of larvae at grafting, supplementary feeding and time between grafting and harvest had significant effects on cell acceptance rates and royal jelly yields.

Keywords:

• honey bees
• Apis mellifera scutellata
• Apis mellifera monticola
• royal jelly
• cell acceptance
• royal jelly yields
• Kenya