Honey bees play an important role in the pollination of flowering plants. When honey bee colonies are deficient in pollen, one of their main nutrients, protein supplements are required. In this study, the effects of diets with six different protein sources on the physiological characteristics of worker bees (vitellogenin (Vg), abdominal lipid content (ALC), hypopharyngeal gland (HPG)) and consumption were investigated. The protein sources of the diets (diet I, …, diet VI) included pollen, spirulina dust (Arthrospira platensis Gomont), fresh egg yolk, lyophilized lactose-free skimmed milk powder, active fresh yeast, and ApiProtein. It was identified that consumption by worker bees was highest in the diet group supplemented with spirulina (diet II). Although there was no statistical difference regarding the Vg content in the hemolymph, numerically, the highest content was found in diet group IV (lyophilized lactose-free skimmed milk powder) (4.73 ± 0.03 ng/mL). ALC and HPG were highest in the group fed diet II. These results suggest that offering honey bees diets with certain protein sources can support their physiological traits.

Today, the honeybee parasite Varroa destructor is thought to be the most dangerous creature in the beekeeping industry worldwide. In this study, the efficacy of using drone brood cells (known to have no residue concerns in bee products and harmless on bee health) as traps against V. destructor was investigated. A total of 16 honeybee (Apis mellıfera) colonies with V. destructor infestation percentage of less than 5% were used for the trial. The treatment group consisted of 8 colonies that were randomly assigned to molded drone comb (comb with 5.4 mm hexagonal cells). The other 8 were assigned to unmolded comb to form the control group. In the trial groups, after 20 days (from 10th May), all drone combs with complete pupation were removed and destroyed on 30th May, 20th June, 10th July, 30th July, and 20th August. During the trial, varroa mite infestation rate (mean abundance), colony development, and varroa mite preference for drone and work bee brood cells were determined. The results showed that the application of drone brood cells as a control method was statistically significant against V. destructor, and did not negatively affect colony development. On the other hand, V.destructor's preference for both drone and worker bee brood cells among the groups was not statistically significant. In conclusion, drone brood cells ensured an approximately 43% success rate as traps against V. destructor compared to the control group. The effective application of drone brood cells as traps in combination with other Varroa mite control methods should be investigated.

Adana ili, iklim özellikleri, coğrafi yapısı ve arıcılık için uygun bitkilerce zengin olması nedeniyle bal arısı (Apis mellifera) yetiştiriciliği için oldukça uygun bir konuma sahiptir. Bu çalışma, Adana ilinde arıcılığın genel yapısını ve sorunlarını incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma, Adana ilindeki 169 adet arı yetiştiricisine konakladıkları yerlerde ziyaret edilerek teknik arıcılık ile ilgili sorular içeren anket çalışması olarak yapılmıştır. Bu çalışmada veri toplama aracı olarak, çoktan seçmeli ve açık uçlu sorulardan oluşan anket formu kullanılmıştır. Bu anket çalışmasında sorulan sorularla arıcıların kişisel bilgileri, eğitim durumları, arıcılığa başlama nedenleri, kaç yıldır arıcılık yaptıkları, arı hastalıkları ve zararlılarını tanıma durumları ve yetiştiriciliği yapılan arı ırkları gibi konularda veriler elde edilmiştir. Ankette kullanılan sorular ildeki arıcılık yapısını genel hatlarıyla tanımak için hazırlanmıştır. Yapılan çalışmadan elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesi sonucunda, ildeki arıcıların %99,4‘ünün erkek olduğu, yaş ortalamalarının 47,77, arıcıların %58,5‘nin eğitim düzeyinin ilkokul, arıcılık deneyim sürelerinin ortalama 19,22 yıl ve koloni sayıları ortalamalarının 293,21 adet olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca arıcıların karşılaştıkları sorunlar belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır.

Bal Arısı (Apis mellifera L.) yetiştiriciliğinde temel kural kaliteli ana arılar ile çalışmaktır. Bal arısı kolonileri, her biri tek bir kraliçe arı tarafından yönetilen sosyal bir topluluktur. Kraliçe arı normal şartlar altında kolonide yumurta üreten tek dişidir ve koloninin devamlılığı için kaliteli ve sağlıklı kraliçe önem arz etmektedir. Ana arıda kaliteyi, damızlık koloni, transfer edilen larva yaşı, transfer ortamı, mevsim, yüksük çıkış ağırlığı, sperm deposu büyüklüğü, başlatıcı ve bitirici koloninin özellikleri gibi birçok çeşitli faktör etkilemektedir. Bu makalede, kaliteli bir ana arı yetiştirmede dikkat edilmesi gereken hususlar üzerinde durulmuştur.

In this study, the insecticidal effect of the Detech^® (Turkish Diatomaceous earth) DE formulation against Galleria mellonella L. was determined. The study was conducted in a laboratory environment with materials taken from beehives produced at Muş Alparslan University in 2022. Diatomaceous earth (DE) was applied in two different forms (dust and slurry DE) and as positive control GüveSavar^®, which is currently used against some pests in beekeeping. DE concentrations of 0, 3, 5, and 7 g/m² in different exposure times were tested for the control of G. mellonella larvae. As a result of all treatments, the highest mortality occurred at 7 g/m² dust DE concentration. Larvae (3rd stage) exposed to 7 g/m² concentration according to dust DE mortality rates reached 100% mortality after 40 hours. According to the results of the slurry DE, the larvae exposed to the slurry diatom at all concentrations achieved 100% mortality at the end of the 96 hours. When the dust and slurry DE results were examined, the direct use of dust formulations greatly accelerated the effectiveness against larvae. The study showed very promising results, suggesting that slurry DE and dust formulations could be a new alternative control method for Greater Wax Moth. In addition, for the first time, the insecticidal efficacy of DE against the honey bee pest, the greater wax moth, was determined.