Borodin Y. Hygienic evaluation of means to stimulate bee colony productivity and to protect bees from pests.

The advisability of the use of preparations to stimulate productivity of bee colonies and to protect bees from insects - probiotic "Baikal" EM-1U, the means to control wax moth - chloride of lime and the use of the device to repel insectivorous birds from apiaries have been theoretically substantiated and experimentally confirmed in the thesis. The optimal dose of the preparation "Baikal" EM-1U at all stages of the life cycle of the colony - 2 ml per 1000 ml 50% of sugar syrup - has been substantiated. The feeding of the probiotic under investigation to the bees during the spring period of bee rearing after the main honey collection promoted the increase in the vitality of the colony and in the quantity of the closed brood. The autumn feeding of the probiotic to the bees promoted their higher resistance to cold. As compared to the control group, the vital energy of the experimental colonies was higher; the number of dead bees, the time period for the thorough cleaning of the hive bottom, feeds expenditure for 1 intercomb area were lower and that promoted the less feces loading of the intestine and thread bareness of bees was lower. Under the influence of the preparation under investigation the decrease in the average temperature and relative air humidity, the increase in the concentration of oxygen and lowering of carbon dioxide concentration, the decrease in the total microbial contamination have been registered in the hives. The use of the probiotic under investigation in the dose 2 ml per 1 liter of the syrup promoted the increase in the honey productivity of the bee colonies in 2006-2008 at 21,7, 28,9 and 35,5 % respectively. The honey of the experimental colonies of bees had less moisture, more invert sugar and inorganic substances, it had higher diastasis number and total acidity. The profitability of honey production was 172,5 % as compared to 91,3% in the control group. The additional treatment of bees with the aerosol of the preparation "Baikal" EM-1U after the use of oxalic acid or the preparation "Tactik" is more effective than the use of only antiacarose preparations to control varoosis. The treatment with the rock salt solution completely disinfects the combs with empty honeycomb (unrefined beeswax) from wax moth. The use of the proposed adjustment - the red balloon with the stylized eyes provides an effective protection of the apiary from Merops apiaster.