Abstract

CONTRERAS-RAMIREZ, Dulce Nayeli et al. Defense, hygiene and production behavior of Apis mellifera L. ecotypes in Tabasco, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.8, pp.1867-1877. ISSN 2007-0934.

Africanization, disease, particularly varroosis, the instability of the international honey market and the deterioration of ecological environment, has led to a constant research on how to obtain bees with high performance characteristics, low defensiveness and resistance to disease. The objective was to evaluate the defense, hygiene and productive behavior of Apis mellifera L. and two bee ecotypes (carniolas and Africanized) in Centla, Huimanguillo and Tacotalpa, Tabasco, Mexico; from March to May 2014. The climate is humid with average temperature of 27 °C and annual average rainfall of 2 550 mm. Defense and hygiene behavior was evaluated through the technique from Payró et al. (2010) and varroosis infestation in adult through David de Jong test; honey production was evaluated by weight. A DCA with 10 hives per municipality were used and Tukey tests (p= 0.05) and “t”-Student to separate population means. In Tacotalpa, defensiveness (1.7) and varroosis infestation in adult bee was higher (6.6%). Varroa in larva was very light in Huimanguillo (0.7%) while in Centla and Tacotalpa showed light levels. Preening in Tacotalpa was intermediate (39.8%) and light in Centla and Huimanguillo. Honey production in Huimanguillo was higher (58.44 kg hive). Carniola bees are less defensive (4.4). It is concluded that in the three municipalities had hygiene colonies with removal greater than 86%. In carniolas and africanized bees the incidence of varroosis in adult and larva, hygienic and honey production behavior are similar.

Keywords : preening; hygienic behavior; honey production.