Genotypic Variability of Components of Foraging Behavior in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Genotypic variability in selected components of foraging behavior of worker honey bees, Apis mellifera L., was determined for five stocks represented by families produced from queens inseminated by single drones. Bees from these stocks were introduced into a common colony for observation to control for intercolony environmental differences. Significant genotypic variation was found in the number of foraging trips, number of pollen foraging trips, round-trip time, age at first foraging flight, length of foraging life, survivorship, nectar load volume, and nectar sugar concentration. One stock varied Significantly from the other four stocks in six of the eight components. Our results suggest that certain components of foraging behavior potentially could function as indicators of honey production and that these components are candidates for selection in breeding programs intended to increase honey production.