This study wasconducted to compare royal jelly production from colonies of Apis melliferaAfricanized honeybees selected for yields of royal jelly or honey with thatfrom Carniolan hybrids. In the first trial, 10 colonies of Africanized honeybeesselected for royal jelly production were used; the top five queens were replacedwith their offspring and in the remaining colonies were introduced Carniolanqueens in order to evaluate production after switch of population. In the secondtrial, 15 colonies were used as follows: five with Africanized queens selectedfor honey yield (AFHO), five with Africanized queens selected for royal jellyyield (AFRJ), and five with Carniolan hybrids (CAHB). In trial one, Carniolanhybrids showed greater royal jelly production/colony/collection (3.95 ±2.92 g) when compared to Africanized honeybees (2.23 ± 2.13 g). In addition,Carniolan hybrids had higher acceptance percentage of grafted larvae (55.4 ±36.7) than the Africanized counterparts (35.8 ± 28.3). In trial two,yield of royal jelly/colony/collection was significantly higher on AFHO comparedto AFRJ and CAHB that did not differ in production. Both Africanized honeybees(AFHO = 254.2 ± 90.7 g and AFRJ = 253.8 ± 206.8 g) produced moreroyal jelly per cup than CAHB that yielded 195.8 ± 80.9 g.
