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ISSN: 2084-3577
Journal of Biology
and Earth Sciences
BIOLOGY
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The first data on hygienic behavior
of Apis mellifera intermissa in Algeria
Noureddine Adjlane1 , Nizar Haddad 2
1Department
2National
of Biology, Faculty of Science, M'hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes, Algeria
Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Bee Research, Unit. P.O. Box 639 ­ Baq’a 19381, Jordan
ABSTRACT
Hygienic behavior is considered as an important factor in selection programs of resistance honey bee
mite to Varroa destructor, the objective of this study was to evaluate this behavior Apis mellifera
intermissa, the local honey bee race of Algeria. The study was performed on 40 colonies in spring and
fall. The results had show a variation in the removal rate of dead brood where it was 91 .56% in spring
and, 83.55% in autumn. This is the first test of hygienic behavior in Apis mellifera intermissa in Algeria.
We can conclude, that the Algerian local bees are characterized by a good cleaning ability.
Key words: Apis mellifera intermissa; Dead brood; Hygienic behavior; Algeria.
J Biol Earth Sci 201 4; 4(1 ): B1 -B5
Corresponding author:
Noureddine Adjlane
Tel/Fax/Mob: +21 3 794074021
E-mail: [email protected]
Original Submission: 24 October 201 3; Revised Submission: 1 0 December 201 3; Accepted: 1 4 December 201 3
Copyright © 201 3 Author(s). Journal of Biology and Earth Sciences © 201 3 T.M.Karpiński. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Journal of Biology and Earth Sciences, 201 4, Vol 4, Issue 1 , B1 -B5
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Adjlane & Haddad The first data on hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera intermissa In Algeria
INTRODUCTION
Honey Bees are indispensable part of the ecological balance in the world for their role in the pollination of many plant species. It also has other
interests such as the production of honey, propolis,
royal jelly and beeswax. It is noteworthy that in recent years, impairments of hives are registered in
many countries. This phenomenon leads to winter
mortality of bee colonies than normal and population losses during the year. This weakening is
known as the ‘’Colony Collapse Discorder’’ (CCD)
[1 -4]. Among the pests and pathogens responsible
for colony losses in Worldwide and Algeria [5]. Varroasis is an ectoparasitosis of the honey bee caused by the mite Varroa destructor [6]. Varroa feeds
on hemolymph of honey Bee and causes modifications on the morphology and physiology of bees
such as a reduction in the weight of the emergence
parasitized bees [7]. The mite Varroa also causes a
reduction of the volume of hypopharyngeal glands
of adult workers [8] and a reduction of the life
expectancy of workers [9]. Varroa play a vital role
as a vector the deformed wing virus [1 0] the varroa
can also transmit other viruses that might destroy
the whole colony [11 -1 3].
Most beekeepers relied on acaricides such as
Apistan (fluvalinate) or Bayvarol (fluméthrine) or
Apivar (Amitraz) to control Varroa mites. Unfortunately, the use of chemicals led to the development of
acaricide-resistant mites moreover it increased the
chemicals residues in the hive products [1 4-1 8].
The selection of Varroa-resistant honey bees is
considered as crucial in order to reduce or eliminate
the acaricides usage. The hygienic behavior was
recognized as an important mode of resistance to
American foulbrood disease [1 9] chalkbrood [20] as
will as it was demonstrated that hygienic bees detect and remove pupae infested with the parasitic
mite, Varroa destructor [21 ]. Bees with hygienic behavior are them that are ability to detect, uncap, and
remove infested pupae from the cells [22], such behavior interrupts the reproduction of the fertile mites
inside the sealed brood cells. In addition, the immature mites are killed which decreases the average
number of offspring per mother mite [23].
The hygienic behavior was studied in different
honeybee races and hybrids [24-37]. In Algeria, no
study has been done on hygienic behavior on local
Algerian race. The present study was conducted
to quantify the hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera
intermissa.
The results of this study are of importance for future selection of mite-tolerant bees.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted in March and
September 201 2 in an apiary located 50 km from
capital city of Algeria in Blida, were the experiment
was performed in 40 equalized Apis mellifera inter­
missa colonies with a one year old queen. The
degree of hygienic behavior was determined by
method of Spivak and Gilliam [24]. Freeze killed
brood assay was conducted by removing a 5 cm by
8 cm square sections of comb containing approximately 1 00 cells of capped brood from each colony.
The sections were placed in a freezer for approximately 1 8 hours, and then the brood was thawed
and placed back into the frame from which it was
removed. The percentages of brood removal in
each colony were recorded after 24, 48 and 72 h.
Four experiments were conducted consequently
with one week interval in each season.
The data obtained are analyzed using Statistica
software version 5.0 according to the process of
analysis of variance (ANOVA). The comparison of
means was done by testing Newman - Keuls at 5%
[38].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The test results are given in Table 1 . After 24 h,
the bees removed 83.55% of the cells to the test in
September while is was 91 .56% in March. Which is
considered as a significant difference between the
two tests (F = 11 .59; d.f. = 39; p = 0.001 5).
According to the results of Balhareth et al. [39],
the removal percentage was 43.84% for Apis melli­
fera carnica and 85.28% for Apis mellifera jemeniti­
ca. Whereas Kamel et al. [40] detarmend it to be
72.5% for the A. m. jemenitica and 35.6% for A. m.
carnica.
Hygienic behavior expressed as % of mean
removal of killed brood in Apis mellifera intermissa in
March and September.
Table 1.
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Adjlane & Haddad The first data on hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera intermissa In Algeria
According to a study done by Bak et al. [41 ] uncapping behavior of worker bees differed significantly between different lines of A. mellifera evaluated
also 24 h after the combs with the dead brood were
reintroduced. The highest percentage of cell cleaning behavior was demonstrated by mellifera
(1 7%) and Carniolan – Dobra line (1 3.6%) colonies.
The lowest efficiency of the process was observed
in the Carnolian Kortowka (Cark) bees (only 2.0%).
Differences have been reported in the relative
hygienic behaviour of subspecies of Apis mellifera,
A. cerana, and Africanized honey bees. Kefuss [42]
found that A. m. intermissa colonies from Tunisia
had the highest level of hygienic behaviour than that
of the several subspecies of A. mellifera (A. m. mel­
was removed more quickly than pupae that had
been sealed for five days.
Rodriguez et al. [43] found no significant differences
in hygienic behaviour between A. m. mellifera, A. m.
carnica, and ‘Buckfast’ colonies. In some studies,
Africanized honey bees had better hygienic behavior than European Bees [44-45]. Previous studies
have suggested that the detection and subsequent
removal of diseased larvae are guided by olfactory
stimuli [46]. Differences in the degree of hygienic
behavior at the colony level result from the relative
speed and efficiency with which individual bees
perform the behavior. A response threshold model
was postulated to describe the differences in colony-level expression of the behavior [47].
Hygienic behavior is stronger in March than in
September. The elimination after 24 hours was
91 .56% for the test in March against 83.55% in the
September. After 48 hours the difference is still significant between the two tests (F = 7.03; d.f. = 39;
p = 0.011 ). Statistical analysis revealed significant
difference after 72 hours (F = 1 4.1 9; p = 0.0005).
March in Algeria is the period of blooming citrus,
there is a great activity of the workers. Bees need
lots of cells for storing nectar. This justifies the rapid
elimination of cells compared with September. Nectar conditions have some influence on the outcome
of the evaluation of hygienic behavior.
Hygienic behavior is genetically determined.
Previous studies, however, have shown that there is
high degree of variability in the expression of the
behavior. For example, lack of incoming nectar has
been shown to reduce the hygienic response [48].
Weakened colonies (those with small populations)
also display a reduced hygienic response [49]. Freeze-killed brood recently sealed with a wax capping
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
lifera, A. m. ligustica, A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasi­
ca) that he tested from France, Tunisia and Chile.
CONCLUSION
This is the first test of hygienic behavior in Apis
mellifera intermissa in Algeria, the Algerian local
bee is characterized by a good cleaning ability.
Further studies are needed to confirm these results,
and to other studies on the hygienic behavior of honey bees towards brood infested with Varroa, especially to compare the hygienic behavior of honey
bee colonies between Apis mellifera intermissa
and/or Apis mellifera sahariensis.
TRANSPARENCY DECLARATION
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