Borlaug fellow program -SHORT TERM TRAINING-

INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION OF HONEYBEES QUEEN

August 6, 2015

Ouardia Kessi I. Algerian situation i. species present in Algeria; ii. resources; iii. General data: number of hives, national honey production, daily consumption/ha/year; iv. Beekeeping practices;

II. Technical institut of livestock (ITELV) i. Creation and missions

III. Skills acquired at WSU on bee breeding I. Queen breeding: grafting, cell builder colony set up II. Introduction to and continued work with instrumental insemination III. Developing expertise in instrumental insemination, collection and eversion, semen storage.

IV. Prospects Algerian beekeeping situation Its tow first rings are yellow-red, very Very soft and is handled without smoke Desert or the Sahara of Algeria and Morroco

Apis mellifera sahariensis. (saharian race) Location: Characteristics: wide and bordered bythe a last black two black line, trimmed theBehavior with : third yellow hairs. one narrower, (Tellian race) black-brown and orange striated abdomen Aggressive and race, but very rustic, Northern part of North Africa :

Apis mellifera intermissa r dozens of royal cells. black-brown thorax, d il haracteristics: ocation: ehavio u nd L C B Table 1. Main differences between Tellian and Saharan bee

Tellian Saharan

Color 0.239 (mm) 1.504 (mm)

Cubital index 2,51 2.33 Pilosity of the 5th 0,217 (mm) 0.209 (mm) tergite

Tomentum 0,701 (mm) 0.728 (mm)

Length of the tongue 6,30-6,60 (mm) 6.228 (mm) There are no less than 13 different kinds of honey in Algeria:

. Orange or citrus honey; . Eucalyptus; . Jujube; . Euphorbia; . Lavender; . Rosemary; . Arbut; . Thyme; . Wild carrot, peganum (harmel), carob; . Spring flowers. General data

Main indicators of bee breeding sector in 2013 (Ministry of agriculture and rural development):

. Number of beekeepers: 31 169;

. Estimated number of honeybee colonies: 1 290 449 colonies.

. Honey production : 6342 ton ;

. Average consumption of honey: 176 g/hab/year);

. Average yield of honey/colony: 4.91kg Beekeeping practices 1. Family beekeeping system: practiced for self-consumption;

2. Semi-intensive farming system: practiced by amateurs who do not aim to a high profitability;

3. Intensive or professional breeding system: practiced by professional beekeepers who are the majority of beekeepers in Algeria, number of honeybee colonies can exceed 300 colonies/beekeeper. From 181 :

. 12% of surveyed beekeepers protect their hives from moisture and weather;

. 8 % respect the orientation colonies;

. the feeding with a protein source is practiced by 13% of beekeepers;

. and, finally, 11% protect the combs against moth in summer.

(N. Adjlane et al.2012) Table 2. Symptoms reported by beekeepers in the investigation Symptoms reported by beekeepers In% of surveyed beekeepers with atrophied wings 41 Dead bees around the hive 33 Depopulation and weakening of the colony 26 Small package of bees left in the hive with a 22 stock of important honey and pollen quantities Premature renewal of young queens outside 18 swarming Diarrhea or traces of excrement on the walls of 17 hives Disappearance of colonies except for a cluster 12 of bees in the center of the hive Abandoned and died Brood with honey stock 9

The institute was created following a merger of two former institutes in 1999: cattle and sheep technical institute (ITBO) and technical institute of small farms (ITPE). It is composed of : . Head office located at Algiers with 6 departments; . 9 experimental stations which are spread in diffrent regions in Algeria, (west, east and center); . 3 annexes also in south and east of Algeria. Mission: The global missions of ITELV revolve around:

. The implementation of national programs to support agricultural development and professional sector;

. High standard production of animals and biological material. ELV's activities develop around five fundamental axes: Training, extension and support to farmers Experimentation Food and nutrition Breeding and reproduction. Studies, surveys and economic analysis

Queen breeding: grafting, cell builder colony set up

breeder queen to breed 2. A one-day-old larva from

Cell raising colonies (or cell 4. Sufficient food (nectar and pollen) 5. Ample drones builder). Drone eversion and semen collection

Partial eversion of the Full eversion of the endophallus of a endophallus of mature drone a mature drone

Partial eversion of the Contaminated endophallus of an semen immature drone Collecting semen

Collecting semen into the syringe

Accidental collection of mucus into the syringe Instrumental Insemination of the queen uipment: Insemination device; Syringeforthesperm transfer; Stereomicroscope; A cold-light-source; Anesthetizing device to immobilizing the . The syringe and queen holder are Lifting the sting structure, using Insertion of semen in to the me ligned at a 45º angle on the device Schley pressure grip forceps oviduct. o facilitate bypassing the valvefold Spermatheca test

Exposing the Removal of the spermatheca tracheal net

matheca without Comparison of he tracheal net spermathecas Spermatheca observation . Get the necessary material for the instrumental insemination and practice more on the collection of sperm and insemination;

. Working in parallel with the project of selection conducted at the institute so as to make benefits from the training;

. Spreading the instrumental insemination technique to beekeepers interested in this technique, especially those implementing selection program (case of Blida and Tizi- Ouzou beekeeping associations): by offering insemination service or offering the training. . Borlaug phellowship program.

. Washington State University.

. Monitors.

. Lab-mates.

. Technicians.

. Technical Institute of Livestock.