Manoj Thakur, Devinder Sharma, Bhumika Rathour and Yashavini Goswamy
Abstract
Hygienic behavior is a desirable trait in commercial beekeeping as hygienic bees quickly remove diseased brood and interrupting the infectious cycle. Hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana F. were investigated. Both species exhibited differential rate of hygienic behavior in terms of removal of pin pricked capped brood cells. After 24 h the removal of dead brood in A. cerana was significantly higher than that of A.melllifera being 94.00 and 88.00%, respectively. The A. cerana comparatively taken less time in differentiating and removing the dead brood in test colonies than A. mellifera. The differential hygienic behavior of A. melllifera and A. cerana may be due to its genetic factors, environmental factors (Temperature, humidity, comb condition, nectar flow), Chemical factors (Pheromones, dead brood odors, parasitic mite odors) Physical factors (Movements, vibration, light) as well as by interaction between all these factors. Hygienic behavior is considered as an important factor in selection and breeding programs of diseases resistance and would greatly benefit the beekeeping industry if productive, hygienic lines were available commercially.