Eskov E.K., Eskova M.D., Spasik S.E. 2017. [The comparative analysis of physiological effects of carbon dioxide and nitrogen anesthesia on honey bee Apis mellifera L.] // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.16. No.3: 253–256 [in Russian, with English summary].
Russian state agrarian correspondence University, Moscowskaya obl., Balashikha 143900 Russia.
E-mail: ekeskov@yandex.ru
ABSTRACT. Honeybee has a high tolerance to hypoxia. But oxygen starvation associated with the air replacement with carbon dioxide affects the physiological state and viability of bees. These gases have a similar effect on reducing bee viability, reducing their weight in the head and thoracic body parts, as well as their water loss. In contrast to the dynamics of the mass of the thoracic and abdominal parts of the body, mass and water content in the digestive tract is increased under the influence of anesthesia. Some decrease in mass of the honey cobs content under the influence of anesthesia with nitrogen and carbon dioxide has no significant differences. Under the action of each of these gases, cobs mass within 5 hours decreases by approximately 50%. Carbon dioxide is 2–3 times more efficient than nitrogen, providing water losses by rektums. A significant damaging effect of nitrogen on the physiological state of bees causes the inexpediency of its use in the practice of beekeeping for the temporary immobilization of worker bees and bees.
KEY WORDS: honey bee, mass, body parts, water, anesthesia, carbon dioxide, nitrogen.