Essential Oils in Beeswax Production by Apis mellifera

Abstract

This research evaluated beeswax production by Africanized honeybees, using essential oils: citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass and fennel. The sheets of beeswax received 0.5 ml of each oil, on both sides, and placed in the hive. The measurement of constructed area was analysed weekly and the treatment that had a significant expand was evaluated the effect on population development. The results were compared by ANOVA followed by Tukey Test. Only the treatment with citronella showed beeswax production significantly higher (1090.7 ± 526.9 cm2) compared to control (590.3 ± 283.2 cm2), without affecting the population development. The treatments with eucalyptus (806.4 ± 481.6 cm2), lemon grass (664.0 ± 666.3 cm2) and fennel (517.3 ± 648.8 cm2) showed no significant differences compared to control.