Produção de zangões para o desenvolvimento de programas de melhoramento genético em Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) africanizadas

Abstract

For the establishment of reproductive strategies in breeding programs of bees the controlled production of drones is essential both for insemination purposes and for the elaboration of a database structure of controlled male information. However, little is known about this production in a continuous and controlled way. We aim to establish a methodology to produce drones at any time of the year through anesthesia with CO2 in virgin queens with known genealogy. Three treatments with 24, 48 and 72 hours in the virgin queens received dosages 10 minutes CO2 every three, six and 12 in 12 hours with five repetitions each. Before the day of the introduction of the virgin queens, 15 colonies were orphaned. Once the queen was accepted, colonies were observed daily for 10 days to check for oviposition. The data was analyzed in a factorial design and different treatments were considered, including different exposure periods to CO2 in each treatment. The goal of this work was to establish a controlled method of induction of oviposition of virgin queens and consequent production of drones.