RESEARCHES REGARDING THE MORPHOMETRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BEE POPULATIONS FROM BANAT AREA

Silvia Pătruică, I. Bănăţean Dunea, Roxana Lazăr

Abstract
   The study was carried out on 160 working bees, belonging to the Apis mellifera carpatica breed, taken from 4 apiaries from Timiş County (BUASMVT apiary), 2 apiaries from Caraş-Severin County (Secu, Reşiţa) and one apiary from Arad County. The measurements were performed at the Department for Apiculture and Sericiculture in the period 15.05.2017 – 15.06.2017, with the help of the stereomicroscope with digital camera. The bees are characterized by the following morphological indices: proboscis length ranges between 5.862 mm and 6.580 mm, the anterior wing length ranges between the limits 8.5875-9.1075 mm, and the width of the anterior wing is 2.650-3.0550; the length of the posterior wing is between 6.0650 mm and 6.3450 mm, and the width of the posterior wing is 1.7175 mm – 2.00 mm. The femur length is comprised within 2.99 mm and 3.40 mm; shin length is 2.14 - 2.81 mm, and the width is 0.7225 – 0.810 mm. Metatarsal length is 1.6950 mm - 2.0950 mm, and the width is 0.7375 - 0.91 mm. Tarsus length, in the bees taken from the 4 apiaries, was comprised within 1.52 mm and 1.77 mm.

Key words: morphometrical characterization; bee population; Banat area