Studies of Some Factors Affecting Rearing of Queen Honeybees ( Apis mellifera L. ) Under Riyadh Conditions

The present work was undertaken to evaluate some factors affecting rearing of queen honeybees under Al-Deriyah and Dirab conditions, Central Region of Suadi Arabia . Successful rearing of queens was achieved during February (92%) and from March to June 82% . Less than 50% was, however , obtained during severe months of summer and winter . Acceptance of grafted queen cups was significantly correlated with pollen collection and the incidence of pests . Embroyonic mortality averaged 12.02 ± 2.12% and was significantly correlated with temperature and pollen collection . No virgin queens were lost during their mating flights in February but up to 39.5% loss was recorded in April, October and November . The most serious factor was the pest complex attacking colonies, particulary the bee-eater , Merops spp. Some queens failed to mate and remained virgin . This may probably be due to the following factors; drone area , pollen collection, temperature and relative humidity . Successful queen mating varied in various months being 91.65% in February , about 61 % in March and April , 37% in May and June and less than 18% in the remaining months; the average being 29.47 ± 5.32% . It was positively correlated with drone brood area determined one month before mating and pollen collection , which were the most influential factors