GENOTYPIC VARIABILITY OF COMPONENTS OF FORAGING BEHAVIOR IN HONEY-BEES (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

Genotypic variability in selected components of foraging behavior of w orker honey bees, Apis mellifera L., was determined for five stocks re presented by families produced from queens inseminated by single drone s. Bees from these stocks were introduced into a common colony for obs ervation to control for intercolony environmental differences. Signifi cant genotypic variation was found in the number of foraging trips, nu mber 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 o ther four stocks in six of the eight components. Our results suggest,t hat certain components of foraging behavior potentially could function as indicators of honey production and that these components are candi dates for selection in breeding programs intended to increase honey pr oduction.