Laboratory Measurement of Brood Disease Resistance in the Honeybee. 1. Uncapping and Removal of Freeze-Killed Brood by Newly Emerged Workers in Laboratory Test Cages

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Abstract
Summary Newly emerged workers uncapped and removed freeze-killed brood in laboratory test cages. A probit-analysis computer program calculated the time required for the bees in each cage to uncap or remove 50% of the brood. The mean time required for 100 worker progeny of different queens to uncap or remove 50% of the 40 brood cells was significantly different, ranging from about 1 to 4½ days. These measurements appeared to be repeatable. Possible common genetic control of these two behaviours is suggested by the significant correlation between them in laboratory tests (r = +0·916, P<0·05).