Comparison of the activity and productivity of Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) and Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica Ruttner) subspecies under environmental conditions of the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia

Yemeni honeybees (Apis mellifera jemenitica) outperform Carniolan bees (Apis mellifera carnica) in pollen collection, brood rearing, and colony growth under the environmental conditions of Al-Ahsa oasis, Saudi Arabia. While Carniolan bees produced more honey during alfalfa and sidir flow seasons, Yemeni bees exhibited superior survival rates due to higher pollen storage, larger brood production, and greater adult population size. The study, conducted at King Faisal University's apiary, compared the two subspecies' foraging activity, colony growth, and honey yield over time, revealing that bee race significantly impacts productivity in this region.

Taha, E.-K. A., & AL-Kahtani, S. N. (2019). Comparison of the activity and productivity of Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) and Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica Ruttner) subspecies under environmental conditions of the Al-Ahsa oasis of eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 26(4), 681–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.10.009