The Effects of Hive Size, Feeding and Nosema ceranae on the Size of Winter Clusters of Russian Honey Bee Colonies

摘要

In a first experiment, fi-om August 2007 to February 2008, colonies of Russian honey bees were housed in eight- or 10-frame hives and fed or not fed sugar syrup and protein supplement patties. From August to November when a natural nectar and pollen flow occurred, the colonies were not fed. From August to November colonies in 8-frame hives grew significantly more than colonies housed in 10-frame hives. Colonies that were in eight-frame hives or were fed three pounds (1.36 Kg) of protein supplement for three weeks in November were larger in late January in comparison to their size in NovemberIn a second experiment, colonies were housed in eight- or 10-frame hives and fed or not fed sugar syrup and protein supplement patties from November 2008 to early February 2009. Colonies in eight-frame hives grew more than colonies in 10-frame hives. Colonies that were fed grew significantly more than colonies that were not fed. In the second experiment, smaller colonies grew significantly more than larger colonies. Nearly all colonies were tracheal mite-free with the exception of two colonies that hadhigh tracheal mite infestations. Although most colonies did have Nosema ceranae infestations, about 80% of the colonies had spore count averages below the commonly accepted treatment level of 1 x 10^ spores/bee. Nevertheless, differences among colonies in numbers of N. ceranae spores were not associated with different hive sizes, different feeding treatments or different colony growths.