Seasonal Aplication of Jenter's Method for a Successful Queen Bees' Rearing in Albania

ABSTRACT

This research tested the rearing method of Queen Bees according to Jenter's. Two consecutive planting were realized, respectively on June 24 and July 12, each of these time-periods representing one stage of the experiment.

To implement this research, the strongest bee-colonies of the apiary were used. During each stage of experiment 10 Queen Bees were produced. Their quality was judged and decided based on their growth parameters and performance.

During each stage, the percentage of larvae's sealing, young Queen-Bees emergence, their time of copulation, their body size, the number of laid eggs were surveyed and measured. At the end of the research, it was concluded that Queen-Bees rearing parameters were better on the first stage of the study, all this due to the sufficient food availability and favourable climate conditions during this period of time. No significant differences were observed for the copulation time between two stages. During the second stage, the egg production is 27.7% lower than the first stage. The differences in value for the number of laid eggs in each stage are significant. The biggest size of the body-length and the maximum body weight of the Queen—Bees were reached during the June-July period (respectively 271.5 mg and 2.01mm).

However, these parameters have been within the limits during the period of study.

Keywords:

• Queen Bee
• nucleus
• cell sealing
• queen emergence
• method of Jenter