Cercetări privind efectul utilizării unor biostimulatori apicoli naturali asupra prolificității mătcilor și stării de sănătate a familiilor de albine

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the utilization of some natural beekeeping biostimulants and their influence on the development of bee colonies in spring, and on the improvement of bees’ health. The experiments were conducted in the village of Josani, the county of Hunedoara, in the period from 27 March to 16 April, 2016. Seventy bee colonies belonging to the Carpathian Apis mellifera breed served as biological material. They were divided into seven experimental groups, with close power, of the same age, and kept in multistoried beehives. The beekeeping biostimulants, namely thyme, bay leaves, oregano, onion, garlic and nettle were added to the sugar syrup, and fed to the bee colonies in the quantity of 1 l of syrup per colony per week. The effect of the natural biostimulants on the development of the bee colonies was assessed by measuring the brood using the Netz frame, and the state of their health by assessing the total number of germs in the intestine of the working bees, in 10 and 21 days after their utilization.