The study of Relationship Between Using Production Technology and Quantity of Pollen to Royal Jelly Production

Abstract

                The management of fifty hives of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) was conducted for royal jelly production. The number of bee adult and bee larvae, the number level of queen cups in the bee hive was 45, 60, 75 and 90 cups/hive and the food supplement was given to the honey bee. Later, they were trapped for the pollen and royal jelly was kept. This study was undertaken at Amphur Chiang dow, Chiangmai Province and Amphur Viengpapout, Chiangrai Province during the period from June to November 1987.

                The result showed that the source plant was very important for royal jelly production especially, giant sensitive plant, Mimosa pigra L. is a major source of pollen for royal jelly production in the Northern part of Thailand. The quantity of pollen plant was related to the quantity of royal jelly production. The relationship varied with the pollen demand of honey bees. When the pollen decreased the relationship was clearly seen. This relation decreased when the pollen was abundant. Food supplement in the decrease or increase of pollen did not effect the increase in royal jelly production.

                In order to obtain high quantity of royal jelly, suitable number of cell cups should be installed for the quantity of pollen collected by bees in order to maximize the percentage of cups yielding royal jelly. Moreover, the appropriate bee hive for getting the high yield of royal jelly production should be congested with the bee population especially nurse bees, and conversely, should have less larvae.