Hygienic behaviour of Apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) in Cuba
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Abstract
Honey bees’ hygienic behavior is a trait associated with resistance to Varroa destructor and other brood diseases. Currently, Cuba is improving its genetic stock through the selection and breeding of hygienic and more productive honey bees through the Selection and Improvement of Honey Bees Project. As a starting point, this study characterized the condition of the hygienic behavior in 4039 commercial and breeding colonies from all over the country in 2013. The number of colonies that removed low percentage of brood (< 50 %) was significantly lower than those with median and high percentages, with a national median of 74.3 %. Seven of the fourteen provinces evaluated, showed median percentages of removed brood above 80 %. The results stress the great potential of Cuban honey bees’ colonies to resist brood diseases and therefore to carry up a selection and breeding program especially due to the fact that chemicals treatments to colonies are banned in Cuba.
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