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How to breed drones with high reproductive value?
Numerous factors influence the effectiveness of artificial insemination. These have been compiled in the article “Factors Determining the Effectiveness of Artificial Insemination”. From the quality of the individuals used for insemination and their storage conditions to the care of queen bees after insemination, each factor contributes to the overall success. Success means obtaining inseminated queen bees of known lineage that begin proper egg-laying within the expected timeframe. Raising high-quality drones, just like raising queen bees, is one of the critical factors to ensure successful artificial insemination.
A high-quality drone is one with high reproductive value.
This value is measured by the ability to evert the endophallus, the volume of ejaculate, and the concentration of sperm in the semen. To produce drones with high reproductive value, appropriate conditions during their rearing and maturation are essential. These conditions can only be provided by a healthy, strong, and properly nourished bee colony
Conditions for a drone-rearing colony
A colony raising male individuals should be strong, healthy, and rich in carbohydrate-protein feed. Its biological structure must allow proper feeding of drone larvae and adult drones. Access to a protein source is crucial. If pollen availability in the environment is limited during the rearing period, supplementation is necessary. This is particularly important in large breeding apiaries, where the scale of drone and queen rearing often causes protein deficiencies. Adequate reserves of carbohydrate food and moderate external supply are also essential. During periods of forage gaps, regular feeding of the drone-rearing colony with small doses is necessary.
A colony rich in protein feed
Protein-rich nutrition is indispensable for rearing drones with high reproductive value. The amount of protein consumed by larvae during post-embryonic development (after hatching from the egg) determines the number of sperm developing in the testes. Sperm production begins on the first day after hatching and ends on the fifth day. Protein is also essential for producing mucus in the mucus glands of young, freshly emerged drones. Mucus is necessary to expel sperm from the seminal vesicles during the eversion of the endophallus.
A strong colony capable of regulating temperature
A strong bee colony can regulate the nest temperature according to its needs. This is crucial for both developing drone brood and adult drones. Drone broods should be incubated at approximately 35°C, which influences the size of their reproductive organs and sperm viability in the testes.
In adult drones, temperature affects the transport of sperm from the testes to the seminal vesicles. This transport occurs between the third and eleventh day of life. The number of sperm transported depends on the temperature, which should be around 34°C. Low temperatures also reduce the sexual drive of adult drones. Notably, young drones gather in the center of the hive at night when temperatures are lower. In the morning, young drones mix with mature ones.
A healthy colony
The drone-rearing colony should be healthy. Particular attention must be paid to minimizing infestation by the Varroa destructor parasite. Drones exposed to the parasite during larval development or from birth to sexual maturity lose reproductive value. They have fewer viable sperm and issues with everting the endophallus.
2. Drone numbers in a bee colony
The ability of a bee colony to rear high-quality drones is limited, and the number depends on the season. In spring, from April to mid-May, a strong bee colony can rear approximately 500 to 1,000 drones. Similarly, towards the end of the season, from mid-July to August. At the peak of the season, from mid-May through June and the first half of July, a bee colony can rear 1,500 to 2,000 drones. These figures are based on the climatic conditions of southern Poland. Excessive numbers of drones in a colony can result in underfed drone larvae, removal of brood by worker bees, or survival of individuals with low reproductive potential.
Factors reducing drone fertility:
- Protein deficiency in food
- Carbohydrate deficiency in food
- Low temperature during rearing
- Low temperature during maturation
- Infestation by Varroa destructor
- Contact with pesticides
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