PSZCZELNICZE ZESZYTY NAUKOWE

Rok XXXIX, Nr 2 1995

A TECHNOLOGY FOR BEE VENOM COLLECTION

M i C h a ł R Y b a k, J a n i n a M u s z y ń s k a,
P i o t r S k u b i d a, Jer z y M a r c i n k o w s k i
Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Apiculture Division
ul. Kazimierska 2,24-100 Puławy, POLAND

Summary

The objective of this study was lo design and build a device for colłecting bee venorn on
a commerciał scalc - a device that would be both user-friendly and suited to the conditions of
Polish bee farming.
The study was conducted at the Apiculture Division, Institute of Pomology and
Floriculture in the years 1989-1994.
As a result of the study several types of the device were devcloped which conformed to
the underlying ideas. Conditions were also determined for using those devices in apiaries.
The proposed bee venom collection technology makes it possible to add a new produce
- bee venom - to the output of Poland's apiaries.
Keywords: bee venorn. clectrostimulation, venom-collecting frames, venorn-collecting framesets,
bee colony, bee venom production.

INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Bee venorn is a valuable raw materiał for manufacturing medicinal drugs

and chemical reagents. There are more than ten pharmaceutical formulas
available worldwide which contain bee venom as an ingredient (Apifor , Apiven,
Anizartron, Forapin, Forapin Pomade, Melivenom, Virapin etc.). Bee venom
was also found to give protection against ionizing radiation K a n o, I t o,
O k a y a m a (1970). World chemical cornpanies offer reagents obtained from
bee venom - S i g m a (1992).
Currently, the most widespread method of bee venorn collecring is by
stimulating bees with electric impulses. The first investigations to be done on
that subject were conducted in the US in the 1960's (P a I m e r 1961; B e n-
t o n, M O r s e 1966). The response of the honey bee to electric stimuli of
different parameters was also investigated in Poland (G a ł u s z k a, L i s i e-
cki 1969; Gałuszka 1972).
As a result of that research the first simple electromechanical devices for
collecring bee venom were developed to be replaced later by more sophisticated
electronic devices (G u n n i S o n 1966, V i c k and C u s t n e r 1983,
N o b re 1990).

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 Thosedevices are manufactured in very smali numbers which makes them
very expensive and thus beyond the reach 01' most Polish beekeepers. The
currently available bee-venom collecting devices also do not tak e into account
beekeeping technologies used in Poland.
A need thus arose to develop a relatively simple apparatus to collect bee
venom for commercial purposes. Such a device should be as simple to use as
possible and should be also well adapted to Polish beekeeping methods. The aim
of this study was to design and to make such a device.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted at the Apiculture Division, Institute of

Pomology and Floriculture in the years 1989-1994. Within the period two stages
can be distinguished. The first one covered the years 1989-1991 in which
designing work was conducted and during the season performance of the newly-
developed devices was tested in different types of beehives and in different
apiaries. The objective of those tests was to check the design and to evaluate it
under bee farming conditions.
The first prototype device for collecting bee venom was developed in
1989. The apparatus was made up of an electrostimulator and 2 venom-collect-
ing frames. The electrostimulator had the following parameters: non-adjustable
output voltage of ca. 70 V, frequency - 50 Hz, impulse duration - 3 s, interval
duration - 3 s. The venom frames were equipped with vertical electrodes made
of stainless steel wire 0.3 mm in diameter mounted every 5 mm.
The second prototype electrostimulator with stepwise output voltage
control and flexible impulse frequency adjustment from 50 - 100 Hz was made
in 1990.
In 1991 the third electrostimulator prototype was developed featuring
wide range tlexible adjustment of all parameters: output voltagę from O to 30
V, frequency from 20 to 3,000 Hz, impulse duration from O to 10 s, impulse-
to-impulse interval duration from O - 20 s. Changes were also introduced in the
venom frames aiming at bringing down bee mortality while at the same time
increasing venom yield. To achieve this, spacing between the electrodes and the
venom-collecting glass screen was reduced to 2 mm (previously 3 mm). Brazen
wire 0,4 mm in diameter rather than steel wire was used to make the
electrodes.
In 1992 a measuring device was added to the generator (electrostimulator)
which allowed an on-go ing determination of the number of bees on the glass
screen and, consequently, of the output of the device. Thus it was possible to
optimize electrostimulation parameters depending on weather and foraging
conditions. The generator was also equipped with an acoustic working mode
signal. That version of the electrostimulator (Fig. I) was used in all apiary-

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based experiments conducted at the 2nd stage of the study.
In the years 1993-1994 oni y smali modifications were added to the design
of the electrostimulator. A frameset was developed which was made up of a
number of venom-collecting frames. The frameset allows a considerable
simplification of the venom-collecting procedure.

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Fig. I. Draft circuitry diagram or the electrostirnulator used in the 2nd stage or the study
Uproszczony schemat elektryczny elektrostyrnulatora wykorzystywanego w II etapie badań.

In the 1st stage preliminary experiments were run the aim of which was
to determine venom-collecting parameters. The venom collecting time was 0.5,
1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 hours.
In 1991 the performance of one vs. two frames in the frameset was
tested.
The 2nd stage of the study was in the years 1992- ł 993. At that stage the
venom-collecting devices were used in apiary-based experiments. The
experiments were run in a stationary apiary in which Caucasian bees were
raised in Wielkopolska-type beehives. The queens were sibs inseminated on the
bee yard. After their strength was equalized the colonies were divided into four
groups, each group being comprised of five colonies. In three groups venom
was collected experimentall y, the fourth was used as the controI. An exception
was the year 1993 in which venom was collected in two groups.
Venom was collected on the following dates: in 1992 in group Istarting
from July l at one-week intervals - 7 dates, in group 2 at two-week intervals -
5 dates; in 1993 in all experimental groups starting from June l at two-week
intervals - 7 dates; in 1994 in all experimental groups starting from July t5 at
two-week intervals - 6 dates.
The aim of the investigations conducted in the seasons of 1993 and 1994
was to determine the optimum positioning of the venom-collecting frames in the
beehive. In 1993 the venom was collected in three colony groups which differed

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for frame position. The treatments were conducted during bee tlight and had a
duration of 2 hours.

group 1 - venom-collecting frames placed in the lower body

group 2 - venom-collecting frames placed in the upper body
group 3 - venom-collecting frames placed in a frameset positioned
between the lower and the upper body. The frameset was put in only at the time
of venom collection,

In 1994, instead of group 3 which gave by far the poorest results a

venom-collecting frameset was introduced into the upper body for the duration
of the treatment (group O). The treatment was conducted early in the morning
(before bee flights) and lasted for l hour.

RESULTS

1st stage. Testing the 1st prototype constructed in 1989 showed its high
output. However, bee mortality rate was excessively high .
. The tests of the 2nd prototype constructed in 1990 showed a considerable
reduction in bee mortality accompanied by only a slight reduction in output.
Based on the data obtained the most suitable duration of the venom-collecting
treatment was established to be 2 hours at daytime during bee tlight with
venom-collecting frames placed in the upper body. With those parameters the
yield of dry venom per colony was 150 g.
Testing the 3rd prototyp e made in 1991 gave evidence that the device was
suitable for commercial collection of bee venom. They also confirrned the
improved performance of the prototype due to changes made in its design. [t
was observed that the introduction of a venom-collecting frame results in bees
gathering at the opposite side of the beehive (body). Over the whole season, an
average yield per treatment and per colony was 31.7 mg of dry venom when
one frame was set up, two frames yielded 63.5 g. The results showed that the
best method consists of placing two frames at the second outermost opposite
ends of the beehive.

2nd stage. The results of the experiment conducted in 1992 were the
following: in group l (venom collected every 7 days) one treatment yielded on
average 54.5 mg of venom, and in group 2 (collection every 14 days), the
average venom yield from a single celony was 135.7 mg. Based on those data
it was established that it is not econornically justified to collect venom more
frequently than every 14 days.
The results from the experiments run in 1993 and 1994 are shown in Table
l and in Fig. 2.

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 T ab le

Average venom yield (mg) from a single bee colony during one collection event
in the years 1993 and 1994
Średnia produkcja jadu od jednej rodziny pszczelej w czasie jednego zabiegu (mg)
w latach 1993 i 1994

Mean venom yield (mg)

Colony group Średnia produkcja jadu (mg)
Grupa rodzin doświadczalnych
1993 (I) 1994 (2)

Group I - venom collecting frames in the

upper body 40 -
Grupa I - ramki jadowe w dolnym korpusie

Group 2 - venom collecting frames in the

lower body 130 130
Grupa 2 - ramki jadowe w górnym korpusie

Group 3 - venom collecting frames between

the bodies 40 30
Grupa 3 - ramki jadowe pomiędzy korpusami

Group O - frameset
- 140
Grupa O - korpus jadowy

Note - Uwaga:
I) treatment duration - I h - czas trwania zabiegu I godz
2) treatment duration - 2 h - czas trwania zabiegu 2 godz
mean was caIculated for 7 dates in 1993 and for 6 dates in 1994
średnią wyliczono dla 7 terminów w 1993r i 6 terminów w 1994 r.

The data in Table I give evidence that even though treatment duration was
cut by half in 1994 the results obtained in groups 2 and 3 were nearly identical
for both years. It points to the time of day as a very important tactor affecting
venom collection. Undoubtedly, it is related to the number of bees capable of
yielding venom present in the beehive dur ing the treatment.
The data also show a substantially lower venom collecting performance in
group I and 3 cornpared to groups 2 and O (Table l). They also show nearly
identical venom yields in groups 2 and O. However, it should be stressed that
in group Othere is less labour required to collect venom than in group 2. At the
same time, framesets are more expensive to make than venom frames.
The experiments run in the years 1992-1994 indicate that there is a
relationship between venom collecting date and venom collecting performance.
In Fig. 2 are shown results obtained over three successive years in group 2
colonies (venom frames in the upper body). Those data reveal that the
maximum effectiveness occurs in mid-July (Fig. 2). The above regularity was

227
found to occur in each year of the study In spite of differences in weather
pattern, foraging conditions and in output.

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1992 1994

DItfIj'_ T_"I:'1'T\jn.y
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Fig. 2. Averagę venom outpul in group 2 colonies in thc years 1992 - 1994 (mg/colony)
Średnia produkcja jadu w rodzinach II-giej grupy w latach 1992-1994 (mg/rodz)

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The tollowing conclusions can he drawn from the results ot' the study:
I. There is a possibility to make avenom collecring apparatus that is relatively
cheap and, at the same time, suited to Poland's conditions. The device
designed and made to be used in this study can be cited as an example.
2. The optimum electrostimulation parameters are as follows:
- impulse frequency ca. 1 kHz
- impulse voltage ca. 25 V
- impulse duration l s
- interval between impulses - 2 s
3. The optimum frequency of venom collecring events in the apiary is every 14
days. It takes that long, according to Gałuszka (1972), for the guard-bees to
be replaced with new ones and only first-time venom-yielders are present.
4. The optimum duration of a venom-collecting event in the celony is 2 h when
the treatment is done during bee flight and ł h when venom is collecred early
in the morning - before bee tlight.

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5. The upper body is to be assumed as the best position for venom-collecting
frames during the treatment.
6. The best position tor venom framesets is above the upper body as a
replacement for the super honey chamber.
7. The best effectiveness of venom collection occurs in mid-July, It coincides
with a period characterized by a marked incidence of house bees in the
colonies (Gromisz et al 1978).
8. Venom collection was not found to provoke any conspicuous aggressive
responses in the treated bees so that the treatment can be carried out
according to standard rules of eonduet in the apiary.
9. The proposed bee venom collection technology allows to enrich the output
of Poland's apiaries with a new produet - bee venom.

However, the effect of bee venom collection on the condition and

productivity ot" bee colonies remains an open question. The study of that
problem is a subject of a separate publicarion.

REFERENCES

Be IIe lon A.W., M o r s e R.A. (1966) - Collection of the liquid fraction of bee venom.
Na III Y<' , 210:652-653.
G a ł LI S z k a H., L i s i c c kiJ. (1969) - Certain reactions in honey bees to the flow
clectric current of different parameters. Zoologica Poloniae, 19: 197-211.
G a l u s z k a H. (1970) - Effect of the electric metbod of venom collection on the behaviour
oj" the bce celony. Zoologica Polaniae, 20:281-307.
G a 1 u s z k a H. (1972) - The research on a most effective rnethod of collection of bee
venom by rneans of electric currenl. Zoologica PoLaniae, 22:53-69.
G r o m i s z M., B o r n u s L., B o b r z e c kiJ., K a c z m a rek S., K a l i-
n o w s k i J., N o wa k o w s kiJ. (1978) - Badania nad między liniowymi
mieszańcami pszczoły miodnej. II. Rozwój rodzin pszczelich w stosunku do ukladu
pożytków. Pszczeln.Zeszyt, Nauk., 22:21-30.
G u n n i s o n A. G. (1966) - An improved method for collecting liquid fraction of bee
venom. J.Apic.Res., 5:33-36.
K a n n o 1., I I" Y., O kuj a m a S. (1970) - Radioprotraction by bee venom.
Nippon lgaku Hoshasen Gakkai, 2\:1494-1500.
N o b r c A. (1990) - A device lo provoke venorn relasc from honeybees. Bee World,
71(4) 151-152
P a l m c r D. J. (1961) - Extraction of bee vcnom research. Bee World, 42:225-226.
S I G M A (1992) - Cheruical company, 1992 Catalog.
V i c k J., A. C a s t n e r Ch.S. (1983) - Methods apparatus for collecting bee venom.
Apiacta, 18(1):35-31.

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 TECHNOLOGIA POZYSKIWANIA JADU PSZCZELEGO

M. R Y b a k, J. M u s z y ń s k a, P. S k u b i d a, J. M a r c in k o w s k i

Streszczenie

Celem niniejszych badań było zaprojektowanie i wykonanie urządzenia pozwalającego

na towarowe pozyskiwanie jadu pszczelego; urządzenia maksymalnie prostego w obsłudze i
dostosowanego do polskich metod gospodarki pasiecznej. Badania prowadzono w Oddziale
Pszczelnictwa ISK w latach 1989-1994. W tym okresie wyróżnić można dwa etapy.
Pierwszy - to lata 1989-1991, w których prowadzono głównie prace konstrukcyjne a w
sezonie w różnych typach uli i w różnych pasiekach praktyczne testy wykonanych urządzeń.
Testy te miały na celu sprawdzenie założeń konstukcyjnych.
Drugi etap prowadzonych badań przypada na lata 1992-1994, podczas których wykorzystano
wytworzoną aparaturę do systematycznych doświadczeń pasiecznych. Doświadczenia prowadzono
w pasiece stacjonarnej z pszczołami rasy kaukaskiej osadzonymi w ulach wielkopolskich. Matki
w rodzinach były siotrarni unasiennionymi na pasieczysku. Dwudziestopniową pasiekę, po
uprzednim wyrównaniu siły rodzin, dzielono na cztery grupy po pięć rodzin w każdej grupie. W
trzech grupach pozykiwano jad (doświadczalne) a czwarta była grupą kontrolną. Wyjątek stanowi
rok 1992, w którym jad pozyskiwano w 2 grupach doświadczalnych.
W 1992 roku podczas sezonu pszczelarskiego prowadzono doświadczenie mające ustalić
najodpowiedniejszy odstęp czasu (liczba dni) pomiędzy kolejnymi zabiegami w tej samej rodzinie
pszczelej. Jad pozyskiwano podczas lotu pszczół, przez okres dwóch godzin za pomocą :! ramek
jadowych umieszczonych po bokach górnego korpusu. Wyodrębniono :2 grupy rodzin: w grupie
I-szej jad pozyskiwano co 7 dni, w grupie II-giej co 14 dni.
Celem badań prowadzonych w czasie sezonu 1993 i 1994 było określenie optymalnego
położenia ramek jadowych w ulu.
W roku 1993 zabiegi prowadzono w czasie lotu pszczół przez :! godziny w następujących
grupach:
I - grupa ramki jadowe umieszczone w dolnym korpusie
II - grupa ramki jadowe umieszczone w górnym korpusie
111-grupa ramki jadowe umieszczone w korpusie pomiędzy górnym i dolnym korpusem.
Korpus ten wstawiano jedynie na czas zabiegu.
W roku 1994 zamiast grupy l, która w 1993 r. dała zdecydowanie naj słabsze wyniki
wprowadzono korpus jadowy (zespół ramek jadowych) umieszczony na czas zabiegu na górnym
korpusie ula (gr-O). Zabiegi prowadzono wcześnie rano (przed lotem pszczół) przez 1 godzinę.
W trakcie prowadzonych badań uzyskano wyniki pozwalające na stwierdzenie, że:
Istnieje możliwość wykonania w Polscc stosunkowo taniego zestawu aparatury do pozyskiwania
jadu pszczelego, czego przykładem m07-C być urządzenie zaprojektowane i wykonane na
potrzeby prezentowanych badań. Optymalne parametry procesu elektrostymulacji są
następujące: częstotliwość impulsów ok. I kHz, napięcie impulsów ok 25Y, czas trwania
impulsów l s, czas przerwy pomiędzy impulsami 2s.
Wykazano ponadto że, optymalna częstotliwość powtarzania zabiegów pozyskiwania jadu w
rodzinie pszczelej wynosi 14 dni. W ciągu tego czasu bowiem zgodnie z poglądami Gałuszki
(1972) następuje wymiana pszczół strażniczek i dawczyniami jadu są osobniki, które go jeszcze
nie oddawały. Natomiast optymalny czas trwania zabiegu wynosi: 2 godziny przy prowadzeniu
go podczas lotu pszczół oraz l godzinę przy pozyskiwaniu jadu wcześnie rano, przed lotem
pszczół.
Za najlepsze umiejscowienie ramek jadowych w ulu podczas prowadzenia zabiegu należy przyjąć
górny korpus. A za najlepsze umiejscowienie korpusów jadowych należy przyjąć ustawienie

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 ich nad górnym korpusem ula. zamiast nadstawki,
Największa efektywność zabiegów pozyskiwania jadu przypada na połowę lipca. co należy wiązać
z faktem iż jest to okres znacznej zasobności rodzin w starszą pszczołę ulową (Gromisz i wsp.
ł978)
Podczas pozyskiwania jadu nie obserwuje się u pszczół objawów szczególnej agresji. można więc
prowadzić te prace przy zachowaniu standardowych metod postępowania w pasiece.
Zaproponowana w niniejszej publikacji technologia pozyskiwania jadu pszczelego stwarza
możliwość wzbogacenia produkcji pasiecznej w Polsce o nowy produkt - jad pszczeli.
Otwartą sprawą pozostaje natomiast wpływ pozyskiwania tego surowca na kondycję i
produkcyjność rodzin pszczelich. Wyjaśnienie tego zagadnieniajest tematem odrębnej publikacji.
Słowa kluczowe: jad pszczeli, elcktrostymulacja, ramki jadowe. korpusy jadowe. rodzina
pszczela. produkcja jadu.

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