Effect of plant and animal origin products on growth parameters of Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera (L.) At Pantnagar, Uttarakhand- An eco-friendly and novel approach

Abstract

The preliminary studies were conducted in G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to find out the effect of plant and animal origin products on growth parameters of honey bee, A. mellifera, reared in old and newly drawn wax combs for six generations during the year 2016 and 2017. The maximum larval weight (128.63mg) and (131.78mg) was observed in desi cow urine treated old bee frames and neem leaf powder treated new bee frames, respectively. The maximum weight of newly emerged adults (112.66 mg) and (118.77mg) was recorded from buffalo urine treated old bee frame and desi cow urine treated new bee frames, respectively. The maximum mean sealed worker brood areas were calculated in old bee frames (304.24cm2) and newly drawn combs (311.63cm2) treated with desi cow urine. Thus, the results showed positive effect of pure desi cow urine, buffalo urine, powders of neem leaves and ajwain seeds on growth parameters of honey bees, whereas, the goat urine and cow urine based plant extracts showed adverse effect on the growth parameters of honey bees.