EFFECT OF VENOM COLLECTION USING THE METHOD OF COUPLED ELECTRICAL AND SOUND STIMULATION ON HONEY YIELD IN BEE COLONIES

This study was undertaken in 1998-2001 in the apiaries of the Apiculture Division, of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, in Pulawy, Poland. The study was undertaken to identify whether honeybee venom collection by means of coupled electrical and sound Stimulation, affected honey production in honeybee colonies. The production of honey was compared between colonies subjected to venom collection and control colonies. Each group was made up of 10 honeybee colonies settled in storey hives. Venom was collected three times over the apiarian season: around the 15(th) of June, and the 15(th) of July. The results obtained demonstrated that the mean yield of honey, obtained only from colonies in which venom was collected using the method of coupled electrical and sound stimulation, was not significantly different than the yield of honey recorded in control colonies.