THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT HUMIDITIES ON THE HATCHING OF THE EGGS OF HONEYBEES

Abstract

The effects of different levels of R.H. on the hatching of the eggs of honeybees has been studied. The optimum range for normal hatching was found to be between 90 and 95 % R.H. There was a significant decline in the number of normal larvae that emerged when eggs were incubated at 100 % and 80 % R.H. At 50 °/, R.H. many eggs shrivelled and of the remainder, only 2.9 % produced normal larvae. No eggs hatched at humidities below 50 % R.H. Abnormal hatching was found to be due to failure of the hatching fluid to dissolve that part of the chorion covering the heads of the larvae. Practical implications of the results of the experiments are discussed.