COLONY PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED HONEY-BEE (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE) STRAINS USED FOR ALFALFA POLLINATION

High and low pollen-hoarding strains of honey bees were selected based on quantity of pollen stored in combs. Performance of strains in comm ercial alfalfa seed pollination is reported. After three generations o f selection, colonies with instrumentally inseminated high-strain quee ns stored significantly more pollen (2.4-fold) than low-strain colonie s. Similarly, colonies from naturally mated, outcrossed high-strain qu eens stored more pollen (2.4-fold) than outcrossed low-strain colonies . Selection did not change preferences for sources of pollen. After fo ur generations of selection, colonies with naturally mated high-strain queens outcrossed with commercial drones stored significantly more po llen (1.4-fold) than commercial colonies. Rates of queen acceptance (5 4 and 61%) and overwintering survival (61%) in commercially managed co lonies were surprisingly low, indicating 37% queen survival during a 1 0-mo period. Overwintered outcrossed high-strain colonies were more po pulous than commercial colonies at the beginning of almond bloom.