Tolerance of Summer Temperature in Imported and Indigenous Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Races in Central Saudi Arabia

Workers from Yemeni (indigenous), Carniolan, and Italian honeybee Apis mellifera races were compared in tolerating air temperature during summer season. After two hours from 8 to 10 am of being shaded, Yemeni workers showed significantly lower weight loss than Carniolan and Italian workers. Foraging activity was monitored for the first 10 minutes of each hour (8 and 10 am) and showed that foraging workers from Yemeni colonies were higher than those of Carniolan and Italian. Italian colonies showed the lowest values in tolerating summer temperature and foraging activity under Riyadh conditions