Comparison of Hygienic Behavior and Resistance to Varroa Destructor in Efe F1 Bees and Their Effects on Colony Performance

Authors : Gamze Ertem, Banu Yücel

Pages : 255-266

Doi:10.18615/anadolu.1782244

View : 72 | Download : 88

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Hygienic behavior, defined as one of the social defense mechanisms of the honey bee, is a highly complex process characterized by the ability of worker bees to detect infected brood, uncap the cells, and remove the compromised individuals. This behavior is considered a crucial natural defense against brood diseases, including the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, which is regarded as one of the most significant threats to modern beekeeping. In recent years, breeding honey bees resistant to diseases—particularly Varroa destructor—has become an interdisciplinary focus aimed at reducing or eliminating the use of chemical agents in disease and pest control in apiculture. Among the traits studied in this context, hygienic behavior stands out as one of the most extensively researched. However, in the ‘Efe Bee’ (Efe Arısı) ecotype—registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye in 2019 and known for its notable potential in pine honey production—hygienic behavior remains a relatively underexplored trait. In this study, hygienic behavior tests were conducted on 20 Efe F1 hybrid colonies using the pin-killed brood method, in which capped brood cells were perforated and the removal response was assessed after 24 hours. Throughout the experimental period, Varroa infestation levels in the colonies were also recorded, and the correlation between these two variables was analyzed. In addition, data on brood development and the number of frames covered with adult bees were collected. The potential impact of hygienic behavior and Varroa infestation levels on colony development parameters in the Efe bee ecotype was examined and discussed. Colony performance measurements indicated that the Efe bee ecotype exhibited a number of frames covered with bees and brood development above the Turkish average, although a seasonal decline was observed toward autumn. In the initial measurements, a negative correlation was detected between hygienic behavior and Varroa infestation levels, indicating that the Efe bee ecotype is well adapted to local environmental conditions and has high potential for colony development.
Keywords : Hijyenik davranış, Varroa destructor, Efe arısı, bal arısı ıslahı

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