Evaluación de dos frecuencias de colecta de apitoxina extraída de colmenas de Apis mellifera L. durante la época estival en la Región de La Araucanía

Abstract

The experiment was carried out from 07 January to 09 March 2006 in the Apiary of the Pillanlelbún Experimental Centre of the Catholic University of Temuco, located 15 km north of Temuco, Araucania Region, Chile. Here the production of apitoxin extracted from the hives of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera:Apidae) was evaluated. The experiment was carried out using apitoxin extractors of a Canadian type which function by electro-stimulation. Three hives were used for each treatment and different extraction frequencies were evaluated: every 20 days (T1) and every 30 days (T2). The variables analysed were: effect on the weight of the colonies, bee mortality and quantity of apitoxin extracted. No significant differences were found between the variables studied (weight colonies p = 0.127, bee mortality p = 0.827, and amount of bee venom p = 0.507)and it was therefore concluded that its is recommended to carry out extractions every 30 days rather than every 20 days, since it is preferable to do this operation at longer time intervals in order to reduce operation costs and disturbance of the bees.