J ournal of Apicultural Science 87 Vol. 55 No.

1 2011
INTRODUCTION
It is crucial for beekeepers to have spare
queen bees in early spring. Additional
queens can be introduced into colonies
that have lost their own queen bees in the
winter. They can also be introduced into
new colonies which have been divided
early in the spring. This is particularly
important in Poland because of the severe
winters, cold springs and short vegetative
period. Introduction of spring of queen bee
imports from outside Europe, is popular
among beekeepers (Wi l de, 2000). Due
to climatic differences, young queen bees
from outside Europe were available in the
early spring, when in Poland the rearing of
queens is impossible. Instead of expensive
imports, methods for wintering queen
bees can be developed. Such methods
could become a breakthrough in the
applied apicultural technologies. First of
all these methods are inexpensive - after
the breeding season, beekeepers have
mating nuclei with egg laying queen bees.
Second - the small colonies overwintered
as nuclei, grow in strength during the
spring. Then, they can be divided, and the
new queens reared the next season can be
introduced into the queenless parts. And
third - when there are egg laying queens in
the spring, the beekeepers can divide the
colonies early, and increase the number of
productive colonies for the late flow.
Introducing a young queen in a bee
colony stimulates the colonys dynamic
development (Wi l de, 2006). The queens
age determines its fertility and the amount
of the secreted maternal pheromone
(Seel ey and Fel l , 1981; Naumann
et al., 1991). The queen bees fertility
determines the strength of the colony.
A fourfold increase in the colony strength,
WINTERING QUEEN BEES IN MODIFIED MATING NUCLEI
Mac i e j Si uda
1
, Je r z y Wi l de
1
, Janus z Br at kows ki
1
,
Bo e na Chuda- Mi c ki e wi c z
2
,

Je r z y Woyke
3
,
Zygmunt Jas i s ki
3
, Be at a Madr as - Maj e ws ka
3
,
Je r z y Sambor s ki
2
1
Apiculture Division, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
2
Department of Zoology and Beekeeping, West Pomeranian
University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland
3
Division of Apiculture, University of Life Science-SGGW, Warszawa, Poland
E-mail: jerzy.wilde@uwm.edu.pl
Received 14 February 2011; Accepted 29 April 2011
S u m m a r y
The aim of this study was to develop an effective method which provides for additional queen
bees to overwinter in mating nuclei. The assay was carried out in the years 2005-2008 (three
wintering seasons) in three places in Poland: the Department of Zoology and Beekeeping at the
West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Division of Apiculture, University of Life
Science-SGGW in Warsaw, and the Apiculture Division at the University of Warmia and Mazury in
Olsztyn. Experimental colonies were created and kept in two types of nuclei: in a trapezoid, top-bar
mating nucleus [TB] and in a mini-plus nucleus [MP]. The highest number of colonies survived in
Szczecin (63%), less in Warsaw (31%), and the least in Olsztyn (20%). In the TB nuclei, only 2%
of the colonies overwintered successfully. In the MP nuclei with one colony, 65% overwintered
successfully, and in MP with two colonies - 45% overwintered successfully.
Keywords: wintering season, queen bees, mating nuclei.
88
brings about a six-fold increase in its honey
productivity (Far r ar , 1971). According
to Woyke (1984), honey bee colonies
with one-year-old queens, produced 27%
more honey than those with two-year-old
queens. Wi l de (2000) and Wi l de et al.
(2002) report that about 50% less honey
was collected from colonies with three-
year-old queens than from those with one-
year-old queens. Bee colonies with young
queen bees are also less likely to develop a
swarming impulse (Zei l er , 1985; Si uda
and Wi l de, 2002; Wi l de, 2006).
The first attempts at wintering spare
queen bees, date back to the 60s of the
previous century. Most often, young
queen bees were wintered in small nuclei
(Ol ej ni czak, 2002) or in small colonies
(Pi dek, 2003). Most tests were carried out
in a bee yard. Single queen bees were placed
in the original hive, in a compartment
composed of several honeycombs,
separated by a tight board (Bor nus and
Szymanki ewi cz, 1968; Ost r owska,
1974). This method of wintering was not
adopted in practice, though, because of the
high labor input and material costs.
Several queen bees were also wintered
in cages called queen banks, in a hive.
However, due to the antagonistic behavior
of the surrounding bees, the queens were
injured (Woyke, 1988; Jasi ski , 1995).
In one bee colony, the attempts to winter
several freely moving queen bees deprived
of their stingers, also failed (Pal eol og,
2001).
Efforts were made to keep queen bees
outside the hive in the winter (Fot i et al.,
1962; Wybor n et al., 1993; Pr abucki et
al., 2003). But so far, no satisfactory results
have been achieved. During wintering,
nosema disease developed in the attendant
bees (Kost ecki , 1976; Pr abucki et
al., 1982; Gl i ski and Chmi el ewski ,
1994; Sok and Romani uk, 2000;
Muszyska, 2001; Czekoska, 2002;
Tomaszewska, 2002). After some time,
it was found that bees originating from
healthy colonies were affected by Nosema
apis (El - Shemy and Pi ckar d, 1989).
Wintering queen bees in mating nuclei
is cheap compared to the cost of importing
queen bees. This is because, queen-
rearing beekeepers have at their disposal
a great number of nuclei with egg laying
queens. Earlier, these nuclei with egg
laying queens had to be eliminated after
the breeding season (Wi l de, 2004). The
reasons mentioned above, triggered the
search for a way to develop an effective
method of overwintering spare queen bees
in mating nuclei.
MA TERI ALS AND METHODS
The assay was carried out in the years
2005-2008 (three wintering seasons), in the
following centers:
1. Department of Zoology and Bee-
keeping, West Pomeranian University of
Technology in Szczecin (northwestern
Poland)
2. Division of Apiculture, Warsaw
University of Life Science - SGGW
(central Poland)
3. Apiculture Division, University of
Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
(northeastern Poland)
Queens-sisters of Apis mellifera carnica
subspecies were reared every year in
queenless rearing colonies. On the 9
th
day,
capped queen cells were transferred to an
incubator (T=34.5
o
C and RH=80%). After
emergence, the queens were marked with
numbered plastic discs. Then, they were
placed in small transport cages with 10
attendant worker bees. They waited in
the cages before being introduced into the
experimental colonies.
Experimental colonies were created and
kept in two types of nuclei: a trapezoid,
top-bar mating nucleus [TB] (with a comb
size of 13.5 top 9 bottom 9 height
cm) and a multi-super nucleus with six
combs in the box, in frames measuring
215 x 163 mm - mini-plus nucleus [MP].
All the nuclei were supplied with comb
foundations. In order to extend the nest
area for a wintering colony in trapezoid
nuclei, supers with six honeycombs were
added (frame size: 148 x 125mm). After
the nuclei were stocked with worker bees
J ournal of Apicultural Science 89 Vol. 55 No. 1 2011
of Apis mellifera carnica subspecies, they
were transferred to a dark cellar for two
days (T=10
o
C). TB was stocked with ca.
100g bees, and MP with ca. 250g bees in
one box. Seven/eight-day-old queen bees
were instrumentally inseminated with 8 l
semen from a Carniolan drone. When the
queens started egg laying, the colonies
diet was supplemented with candy. Each
year, winter feeding of the colonies started
15
th
August and ended 15th September.
The colonies to be wintered in MP were
fed syrup (5 : 3, sugar : water), and those
to be wintered in TB were fed candy, in
several portions.
The c olonies prepared for wintering
were randomly divided into the following
groups:
I TB trapezoid, top-bar mating nucleus
II TBS trapezoid, top-bar mating nucleus
with a super
III MP1/2 mini-plus twin-nucleus (two
colonies, each wintering on three combs of
the nucleus, separated in the middle by a
vertical board)
IV MP1 mini-plus nucleus, one colony
wintering on six combs in a whole box
The colonies in each group were divided
into two subgroups: A - wintered on a bee
yard and B - wintered in a cellar.
From 20
th
Aug. to 15
th
Dec. all nuclei
were in a bee yard. In the autumn, when
the temperatures fell below 0
o
C for a
few consecutive nights, half the colonies
were transferred to a cellar (T=4-5
o
C and
RH=ca. 65-75%).
Once a month, the wintering colonies
were examined with a stethoscope.
Based on the emitted sounds, the course
of wintering was assessed. When sound
assessment was difficult, it was always
possible to lift the nucleus cover for a
quick look at the colonies.
For Olsztyn, the temperature and
humidity data were obtained from the
measurements of the UWM meteorological
station, for Warsaw - from the SGGW
meteorological station in the Ursynw
quarter, and for Szczecin - from the service:
Weather Underground (http://www.
wunderground.com). The average daily
air temperatures for Poland for the last 30
years, referred in this paper as perennial
data, were also obtained from the UWM
meteorological station in Olsztyn.
Two and three-way ANOVA was carried
out. Significance of difference between the
means () was determined by Duncans
multiple range test. The data in percentages
to be used in statistical calculations, were
converted by the arcsine transformation
(Bliss). The means differing significantly
(p < 0.05) were marked with different
small letters.
RESULTS
1.1 Weather conditions
Weather conditions could have
considerably affected the results of the
research. That is why throughout the assay,
temperature and relative humidity of air
were regularly measured. The two-way
analysis of variance (research place and
season) did not show significant interaction
between the place of the investigation
and the consecutive wintering seasons
(F
2
=0.090, p<0.985).
While the colonies were wintering,
the average monthly air temperatures for
each center were similar to the perennial
average (Fig. 1a). In the late autumn
and in the winter, the highest average
temperatures were in Szczecin, average
temperatures were lower in Warsaw and
the lowest average temperatures were in
Olsztyn (Fig. 1a). In the early spring, the
highest temperature was in Warsaw, and
the lowest in Szczecin. Average monthly
temperatures for individual centers, were
slightly higher than the perennial average
temperatures.
The average relative air humidity during
wintering was very similar in all centers
(Fig. 1b). It ranged between 76.2% and
92.4% from November to March. During
the first spring months, it decreased in all
centers. In April, the average relative air
humidity was highest in Szczecin (75.7%),
and lowest in Olsztyn (63.4%).
Average monthly temperatures
differed significantly in the consecutive
wintering seasons (F
2
=15.728, p<0.001).
90
In the 2005/2006 season, the average air
temperature in November (8.9
o
C) was
considerably higher than the average in
other seasons, and higher than the perennial
average (2.7
o
C - Fig. 1c). In January
2005/2006, the average temperature
(-7.1
o
C) was significantly lower than the
average temperatures for the 2006/2007
and 2007/2008 seasons: 3.4
o
C and 0.9
o
C,
respectively; and lower than the perennial
average (-2.9
o
C). The frost-period in the
2005/2006 season, lasted until March
when the average temperature was -1.2
o
C.
In March, the average temperature was
significantly lower than the perennial
average (1.2
o
C) and lower than the
average temperatures in the 2006/2007
and 2007/2008 seasons: 6.2 and 3.1
o
C,
respectively. The average air temperatures
in the individual seasons in April, were
similar to the perennial average and ranged
between 6.7
o
C and 8.0
o
C.
Fig. 1a. Average air temperature in the centers (
o
C).
Fig. 1b. Average relative air humidity in the centers (%).
J ournal of Apicultural Science 91 Vol. 55 No. 1 2011
The average monthly relative air humidity
for the three locations in the consecutive
seasons was very similar from November
to March, and ranged between 84.1% and
92.8% (Fig.1d). In the first spring months,
the humidity fell in all locations. In April,
the significantly lowest average (F
2
= 5.4,
p<0.005) was observed in the 2006/2007
season (60.6%), and the highest in the last
2007/2008 season (81.7%).
1.2. Survival of colonies
The place where the queen bees were
wintered (a bee yard or an underground
wintering building) did not significantly
affect the differences in the survival
of the colonies (F
1
= 0.562, p = 0.454).
Consequently, the rest of our report
contains the total results, without referring
to the colonies as being split into the
subgroups: A (colonies wintering on a bee
yard) and B (colonies wintering in a cellar).
Fig. 1c. Average air temperature in the seasons (
o
C).
Fig. 1d. Average relative air humidity in the seasons ( %).
92
1.2.1 . Survival of colonies in three
locations
Wintering the queen bees in trapezoid
nuclei without a super (group I, TB) was
not successful in any of the locations and
seasons. That is why this assay group is not
presented in Table 1, nor in the following
description of the results.
The two-way ANOVA indicated a
highly significant interaction between the
assay groups and apicultural seasons as
well as the place of the research F
2
= 3.324,
p= 0.001.
The queen bees overwintered most
effectively in Szczecin. In the 2007/2008
season, 19% of them survived in trapezoid
top-bar nuclei with a super (gr. II, TBS),
81% in twin mini-plus nuclei (gr. III,
MP1/2), and as many as 95% in one-box
mini-plus nuclei (gr. IV, MP1 - Tab. 1)
In Warsaw and Olsztyn, queen bees in
trapezoid nuclei with a super (gr. II, TBS)
did not survive the winter in any season.
In the last year 2007/2008, in Warsaw,
most colonies survived in twin and single-
colony mini-plus nuclei (gr. III, MP1/2
and gr. IV, MP1), i.e. 75% and 68%,
respectively.
In 2005/2006 in Olsztyn, most colonies
(32%) survived in twin-colony mini-plus
nuclei (gr. II, MP1/2). In 2007/2008 most
colonies (46%) survived in the same nuclei
type, yet wintered as a single colony (gr.
IV, MP1).
In total, in all three seasons, the
significantly highest percentage of queen
bees were those that survived the winter in
Szczecin (63%). In Warsaw, a significantly
high percentage of queens (31%) survived
the winter, than in Olsztyn (20%) (Tab. 1).

T a b l e 1
Effectiveness of extra queen bees survival during the wintering of experimental colonies (%)
Center Year
Group
Centers in total
II (TBS) III (MP1/2) IV (MP1)
n % sd N % sd n % sd n % sd
Szczecin
2005/2006 20 0.0
a
0.0 20 65
d
0.5 21 90
e
0.3
219 63
c
0.5 2006/2007 23 0.0
a
0.0 20 90
e
0.3 24 83
de
0.4
2007/2008 21 19
ab
0.4 26 81
de
0.4 44 95
e
0.2
Warszawa
2005/2006 6 0.0
a
0.0 13 0.0
a
0.0 10 0.0
a
0.0
144 31
b
0.5 2006/2007 20 0.0
a
0.0 22 50
cd
0.5 20 40
c
0.5
2007/2008 18 0.0
a
0.0 16 75
d
0.5 19 68
d
0.5
Olsztyn
2005/2006 19 0.0
a
0.0 28 32
bc
0.5 8 25
abc
0.5
183 20
a
0.4 2006/2007 20 0.0
a
0.0 20 10
ab
0.3 20 45
c
0.5
2007/2008 20 0.0
a
0.0 24 13
ab
0.3 24 46
cd
0.5
Groups in total 167 2
a
0.2 189 47
b
0.5 190 65
c
0.5 546 40 0.5
Years of investigation in total
145
2005/2006
189
2006/2007
212
2007/2008
30
a
0.5 36
a
0.5 50
b
0.5
group II (TBS) trapezoid polystyrene mating nuclei with a super
group III (MP1/2) one-box mini-plus nuclei with two colonies
group IV (MP1) one-box mini-plus nuclei with one colony
Different small letters indicate signicance of differences for p<0.05.
J ournal of Apicultural Science 93 Vol. 55 No. 1 2011
1.2.2. Survival of queen bees in different
nuclei types
In total, of all the centers and seasons,
the significantly highest percentage of
queen bees that survived in the colonies
(65%) were those that occupied the whole
box of a mini-plus nucleus (gr. IV, MP1).
A significantly high percentage of queen
bees that survived in the colonies (47%)
were those that occupied half a mini-
plus nucleus. But only 2% of queen bees
survived in the colonies that occupied
trapezoid top-bar mating nuclei with a
super (gr. II, TBS) (Tab. 1).
1.2.3. Survival of queen bees in
different seasons
Survival of queen bees in different
seasons varied. In total, of all the centers,
significantly more queen bees (50%)
survived the 2007/2008 winter which
was the last year of the study, than in
2006/2007 and 2005/2006: 36% and 30%,
respectively. Compared to the last year, the
survival rate in 2006/2007 and 2005/2006
was 14% and 20% smaller, respectively.
1.3. Survival of colonies in consecutive
wintering months
The number of living colonies gradually
decreased in the consecutive wintering
months in all the centers, groups, and years
of the research (Fig. 2).
1.3.1. Average monthly survival of
colonies in different locations
On the average, of all the three seasons
and nuclei types, the fewest colonies died
in Szczecin (Fig. 2). In October - January
more than 80% survived, and by the end
of the wintering season, the survival rate
fell in March to 60% of the initial value.
In Warsaw and in Olsztyn, the survival
rate decreased similarly. During the first
two months, 90% of the colonies survived.
Then, the survival rate suddenly dropped.
In December, 60% of the colonies survived,
and by the end of wintering, only 20%
survived in Warsaw and ca. 5% in Olsztyn.
On the average, of all the three seasons
and locations, the colonies in trapezoid
top-bar nuclei with a super (gr. II,
TBS) already started to suddenly die in
December (40% of the living colonies). By
the end of wintering in March, only a few
of them survived (Fig. 3). The colonies in
one half of the mini-plus nucleus (gr. III,
MP1/2) overwintered successfully till
January. A decrease was observed in this
group (gr. III, MP1/2) after January, and
eventually 47% of the colonies survived
the winter. Wintering was most successful
for the colonies in the whole box of a mini-
plus nucleus (gr. IV, MP1), where single
losses were distributed evenly, throughout
the whole wintering season (Fig. 3).
Fig. 2. Average survival of colonies in consecutive months in three locations (%).
94
On the average, of all the locations
and nuclei types for the first wintering
season of 2005/2006, the fewest colonies
survived between January and March
(Fig. 4). During the next wintering season,
the fewest colonies survived in January
and February 2007. In the last season;
2007/2008, single colonies started dying in
December. Losses were evenly distributed
throughout the wintering period.
The most frequent cause of losses of
colonies was insufficient nutrition, as
71.4% died from hunger (Fig. 5). Starving
colonies often suffered from dysentery
(9.5%). Quite often (10.2%), the bees did
not move to upper sections of the trapezoid
top-bar nuclei with a super (gr. II, TBS),
even though there was still food left.
A sudden population drop of bees was
observed in 8.9% of the colonies.
Fig. 4. Average survival of colonies (%) in the consecutive months of three wintering seasons.
Fig. 3. Average survival of colonies from different groups in the consecutive months
of wintering season (%).
Explanation: TBS - trapezoid, top-bar mating nucleus with a super; MP1/2 mini-plus
twin-nucleus; MP1 mini-plus nucleus, one colony wintering on six combs in a
whole box.
J ournal of Apicultural Science 95 Vol. 55 No. 1 2011
DISCUSSI ON
Successful wintering of bees is
significantly affected by atmospheric
conditions, especially by the number of days
with severe frost as well as by the number
of days with thaws. During the first and the
second wintering season, extremely low
temperatures occurred (even -30
o
C), which
weakened the effectiveness of queen bee
wintering, to 30% and 36%, respectively.
Weather conditions considerably improved
the last year, which resulted in a higher
survival rate of the wintering queen bees
(50%). The wintering success was different
in the three different places. Most colonies
survived the winter in Szczecin (63%), less
in Warsaw (31%), and the least in Olsztyn
(20%). These results were probably caused
by lower winter temperatures in the two
latter locations as compared with Szczecin.
Also, other authors (Bor nus et al . ,
1974; Bobr zecki , 1976; Ost r owska,
1984; Pr abucki et al., 2003) have
pointed out the effect of temperature on
the success of overwintering bee colonies.
Pechhacker and Kasj anow (2004)
believe that bees should winter in an
outdoor temperature of around 0
o
C, as
in such conditions the intensity of heat
generated by bees, which reflects the level
of their metabolism, is minimal. Sowa et
al. (1983) wintered the colonies indoors, at
a temperature ca. 4
o
C, and the survival rate
was 93-95%.
During the wintering period, relative air
humidity was very high (ca. 90%) in all the
research centers and seasons. Such high
humidity shortens the life of wintering bees
(Ost r owska, 1984; Muszyska, 2004;
Skubi da, 2004b; Roman, 2007).
According to Br at kowski (1998), the
most decisive factor affecting bee survival
in winter is the strength of bee colonies.
The results of our research prove that it is
not satisfactory to overwinter queen bees in
trapezoid top-bar mating nuclei (TB) either
in a bee yard or in a cellar as independent
units. Only 2% of these queen bees
survived the winter. Maul and Schnei der
(1991) were able to overwinter such small
colonies in a cellar only when they replaced
the worker bees in the colonies three or four
times. Bor nus and Szymanki ewi cz
(1968) successfully overwintered 50% of
queen bees in mating nuclei, which were
placed between two bee colonies wintering
in one hive. In such conditions, bees in the
nuclei took advantage of the heat generated
by the neighbouring colonies.
The colonies wintering in mini-plus
nuclei (MP) had better chances for survival
because of an extended nest area. This area
gave both a greater storage potential as
well as a larger number of bees, and at the
same time - there was a smaller production
of thermal energy per bee. In our assay,
in mini-plus nuclei, 47% of the wintered
colonies survived the winter on three
Fig. 5. Causes of wintering colonies dying (%).
96
honeycombs (gr. III, MP1/2), and 65%
on six honeycombs (gr. IV, MP1). There
is definitely less heat loss in the case of
a bigger cluster because of the favorable
relation of the cluster size to its surface,
and because of greater heat production. In
weak colonies, the mechanism is the same,
yet with an adverse effect.
Wintering of spare queen bees in mating
nuclei is difficult, because of the small
number of bees and the small nest surface.
Food scarcity was the most common cause
of the dying of colonies (71.4%). Starving
colonies often suffered from dysentery.
Defecation into the nest was observed in
9.5% of wintered colonies.
In trapezoid top-bar mating nuclei with
a super (gr. II, TBS), bees quite frequently
(10.2%) did not get to the upper sections,
even though there was still food left. This
may have resulted from rearing brood in the
lower sections late in the autumn, and then
the bees remained in the lower sections.
The sudden population drop in 8.9% of
the wintered colonies is difficult to explain,
yet it may be attributed to the phenomenon
of single bees leaving the hive during a
wintering season.
CONCLUSIONS
Trapezoid top-bar mating nuclei are
unsuitable for self-wintering of bee
colonies in Poland, because of their small
size.
The best conditions for wintering of
spare queen bees were in mini-plus nuclei,
when the colonies occupied the entire box
(six combs).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The assay was carried out thanks to
the support of the Ministry of Science
and Higher Education - as Own Research
Project No 2 P06Z 058 28. We would like
to thank the head of this project Prof. Dr.
hab. Jar os aw Pr abucki , for effectively
managing this experiment for 3 years.
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ZIMOWANIE ZAPASOWYCH MATEK PSZCZELICH
W ZMODYFIKOWANYCH ULIKACH WESELNYCH
Si uda M. , Wi l de J. , Br at kows ki J. , Chuda- Mi c ki e wi c z B. ,

Woyke J. , Jas i s ki Z. , Madr as - Maj e ws ka B. , Sambor s ki J.
S t r e s z c z e n i e
Posiadanie zapasowych matek wczesn wiosn jest bardzo wane dla pszczelarzy. Matki te
mona podda do rodzin, ktre straciy wasne matki zim. Mona je rwnie podda do wczesnych
odkadw. Ma to szczeglne znaczenie w Polsce, charakteryzujcej si srogimi zimami, chodnymi
wiosnami i krtkim sezonem wegetacyjnym.
Celem bada bya prba opracowania skutecznej metody zimowania zapasowych matek pszczelich
w ulikach weselnych. Dowiadczenie przeprowadzono w latach 2005-2008 (3 zimowle) rwnolegle
w trzech jednostkach: Katedrze Zoologii i Pszczelnictwa Zachodniopomorskiego Uniwersytetu
Technologicznego w Szczecinie, Samodzielnej Pracowni Hodowli Owadw Uytkowych SGGW
w Warszawie i Katedrze Pszczelnictwa Uniwersytetu Warmisko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie.
Rodzinki z matkami unasienionymi sztucznie 8 l nasienia w wieku 7-8 dni przygotowane do
zimowli podzielono losowo na nastpujce grupy:
I TS trapezoidalny snozowy ulik weselny.
II TSN trapezoidalny snozowy ulik weselny z nadstawk.
III MP1/2 dwurodzinny ulik mini-plus (dwie rodzinki, kada zimujca na 3 plasterkach w poowie
ulika, przedzielonego pionow przegrod).
IV MP1 ulik mini-plus, jedna rodzinka zimujca na 6 plasterkach w caym korpusie.
Rodzinki w kadej grupie podzielono na 2 podgrupy: A - zimowane na pasieczysku i B - zimowane
w piwnicy.
Miejsce zimowania matek (toczek lub stebnik) nie wpyno istotnie na zrnicowanie
przeywalnoci rodzinek (F
1,
= 0,562, p = 0,454). Nie udao si przezimowa matek w ulikach
trapezoidalnych bez nadstawki (gr. I, TS) we wszystkich orodkach oraz latach bada. W sumie,
ze wszystkich miejscowoci i sezonw, wysoko istotnie najwicej matek (65%) przeyo
w rodzinkach zimujcych pojedynczo w korpusie ulika mini-plus (gr IV, MP1). Najwicej rodzinek
przeyo w Szczecinie (63%), mniej w Warszawie (31%), a najmniej w Olsztynie (20%). W ulikach
TS przezimowano tylko 2%, a w ulikach MP zasiedlonych pojedynczo - 65% i 45% przy zasiedleniu
przez dwie rodzinki. Trapezoidalne snozowe uliki weselne, ze wzgldu na swoje niewielkie
wymiary, nie nadaj si do samodzielnego zimowania rodzinek pszczelich w Polsce. Najkorzystniej
zapasowe matki zimoway w ulikach mini-plus, gdy rodzinki zajmoway cay korpus (6 plasterkw).
Sowa kluczowe: zimowla, matki pszczele, uliki weselne.
J ournal of Apicultural Science 99 Vol. 55 No. 1 2011