Determination of Color and Odor Preferences of Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L.)\r

This study was carried out in the beekeeping research area of Bayburt University in order to\rdetermine the effect of odor and color on plant preference of honeybees in 2021. The experimental\rsetup was established at a distance of 200 meters from the apiary where 80 Caucasian bees (Apis\rmellifera caucasica) colonies are located. As a result of the study, the most preferred feeders were\rthe control group (pure sucrose syrup) (9.81 pieces), and the least preferred feeders were the rose-\rscent group (2.58). The effect of odor on honeybees' feed preferences varied according to months.\rConsidering the effect of months on honeybees' visits to their feeders, the most visited feeders were\rMelissa (6.8) in June, control (11.69) in July, and control (14.58) in August. The highest number of\rfeeder visits by honeybees was in August (9.24), and the lowest (2.89) in June. Considering the\rcolor preferences of honeybees, the most visited forage color was blue (5.98) and the least red was\r4.89. The effect of colors on the feed preferences of honeybees also varied according to the months.\rThe highest visitor bee average was found in the blue colored feeder (4.53) in June, the green\rcolored feeder (7.24) in July, and the yellow and blue colored feeders (7.29) in August.