COLONY PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED HONEY-BEE (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE) STRAINS USED FOR ALFALFA POLLINATION

High and low pollen-hoarding strains of honey bees were selected based on quantity of pollen stored in combs. Performance of strains in commercial alfalfa seed pollination is reported. After three generations of selection, colonies with instrumentally inseminated high-strain queens stored significantly more pollen (2.4-fold) than low-strain colonies. Similarly, colonies from naturally mated, outcrossed high-strain queens stored more pollen (2.4-fold) than outcrossed low-strain colonies. Selection did not change preferences for sources of pollen. After four generations of selection, colonies with naturally mated high-strain queens outcrossed with commercial drones stored significantly more pollen (1.4-fold) than commercial colonies. Rates of queen acceptance (54 and 61%) and overwintering survival (61%) in commercially managed colonies were surprisingly low, indicating 37% queen survival during a 10-mo period. Overwintered outcrossed high-strain colonies were more populous than commercial colonies at the beginning of almond bloom.