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Article

Observation of the Mating Behavior of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens Using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID): Factors Influencing the Duration and Frequency of Nuptial Flights

by
Ina Monika Margret Heidinger
1,2,*,
Marina Doris Meixner
1,
Stefan Berg
2 and
Ralph Büchler
1
1
LLH, Bee Institute, Erlenstrasse 9, D-35274 Kirchhain, Germany
2
Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture, Bee Research Center, An der Steige 15, D-97206 Veitshöchheim, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2014, 5(3), 513-527; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects5030513
Submission received: 17 December 2013 / Revised: 16 April 2014 / Accepted: 20 June 2014 / Published: 1 July 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Honey Bee Behavior)
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Abstract

We used radio-frequency identification (RFID) to record the duration and frequency of nuptial flights of honey bee queens (Apis mellifera carnica) at two mainland mating apiaries. We investigated the effect of a number of factors on flight duration and frequency: mating apiary, number of drone colonies, queen’s age and temperature. We found significant differences between the two locations concerning the number of flights on the first three days. We also observed an effect of the ambient temperature, with queens flying less often but longer at high temperatures compared to lower temperatures. Increasing the number of drone colonies from 33 to 80 colonies had no effect on the duration or on the frequency of nuptial flights. Since our results agree well with the results of previous studies, we suggest RFID as an appropriate tool to investigate the mating behavior of honey bee queens.
Keywords: Apis mellifera; honey bee queen; mating behavior; nuptial flight; radio-frequency identification (RFID) Apis mellifera; honey bee queen; mating behavior; nuptial flight; radio-frequency identification (RFID)

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MDPI and ACS Style

Heidinger, I.M.M.; Meixner, M.D.; Berg, S.; Büchler, R. Observation of the Mating Behavior of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens Using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID): Factors Influencing the Duration and Frequency of Nuptial Flights. Insects 2014, 5, 513-527. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects5030513

AMA Style

Heidinger IMM, Meixner MD, Berg S, Büchler R. Observation of the Mating Behavior of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens Using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID): Factors Influencing the Duration and Frequency of Nuptial Flights. Insects. 2014; 5(3):513-527. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects5030513

Chicago/Turabian Style

Heidinger, Ina Monika Margret, Marina Doris Meixner, Stefan Berg, and Ralph Büchler. 2014. "Observation of the Mating Behavior of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens Using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID): Factors Influencing the Duration and Frequency of Nuptial Flights" Insects 5, no. 3: 513-527. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects5030513

APA Style

Heidinger, I. M. M., Meixner, M. D., Berg, S., & Büchler, R. (2014). Observation of the Mating Behavior of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens Using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID): Factors Influencing the Duration and Frequency of Nuptial Flights. Insects, 5(3), 513-527. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects5030513

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