Evaluación de la viabilidad de huevos de abeja Apis mellifera L. sometidos a radiación ultravioleta

Abstract

This study evaluated the viability of the eggs of Apis mellifera L. (honeybee) when exposed to UV-A and UV-B radiation using a fluorescent tube of 30 watts power with a spectrum between 280 nm and 720 nm.  The design of the experiment was completely random, with evaluations of viability after exposure times of 0, 10, 30, 60 and 90 seconds. The evaluation method was the presence of operculate cells on the ninth day after exposure of 24-hour old eggs to radiation. The results obtained from the measurements among the different exposure times showed that there were statistically significant differences between the treatments. The greatest viability occurred at 0 exposure with 89.26%, followed by 56.59% for 10 s exposure, 36.47% for 30 s, 31.46% for 60 s, and 21.83% viability with 90 s exposure. This experiment provides valuable information with which to reduce bee losses in breeding programmes, since they are sensitive to exposure to UV radiation.