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THE INFLUENCE OF INFECTION WITH NOSEMA APIS ON THE ACTIVITIES AND LONGEVITY OF THE WORKER HONEYBEE |
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| Authors: | M. H. HASSANEIN B.Sc. PhD. |
| Affiliation: | Bee Research Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts |
| Abstract: | Infection of the adult worker honeybee with Nosema apis reduces or obviates brood feeding and causes her to commence foraging earlier than a healthy bee. The length of foraging activity and the total length of life of infected bees is reduced. In colonies infected with N. apis the rate of brood rearing is severely depressed during April, May and June, the degree of depression being proportional to the percentage infection. Infection decreases during July, August and September, and consequently the rate of brood rearing increases, but the resulting addition in foraging population is usually too late to increase the honey crop. |
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