Use of homogenized drone semen in a bee breeding program in Western Australia

Abstract

— The use of mixed sperm of a large number of drones is considered to be advantageous in maintaining honey bee stock (Apis mellifera L). The new technique of using homogenized drone semen was applied in a commercially orientated breeding program in Western Australia. Over a period of 5 years the insemination success averaged 85%. Queens started oviposition 4.35 days after insemination (S.E. = 0.15; n = 467). Over 4 years brood viability ranged from 88% to 94% (S.E. = 0.66) and colonies built up very quickly. Honey production averaged 115 kg per hive in 1986 and 109 kg in 1987 (S.E. = 2.80). Longevity of queens was not appreciably different from that of queens reported in the literature that were inseminated with non-homogenized semen.