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In European (Western) honey bee Apis mellifera L. Varroa mites must be continuously monitored to allow colonies to develop normally and realize high productivity and quality of bee products. A clinical trial of veterinary-medical product, based on amitraz, in the form of strips (VMP Apivar ® – 3.33% amitraz) was carried out in the autumn of 2011. High efficiency of the active substance against Varroa destructor in apiaries on the territory of Bulgaria is determined. After exposure of 46 to 78 days high efficiency on varroosis (Varroa destructor) is achieved – average in four apiaries from 99.00% to 99.86%.

The effect of some stimulating products on the development of the hypopharyngeal (HPhG) and the thoracic glands (ThG) of worker bees was studied. The investigation was conducted in the spring period of 2012 at the Experimental apiary of the Experimental Station of Stockbreeding and Agriculture (ESSA) in Smolyan, Bulgaria. Products ‘Vita Feed Gold (VFG)’, ‘Apidas’, ‘Oligofosi’ and ‘Anolyte-7’ were used for stimulating feeding of bee colonies. Five groups, each of five bee colonies were formed. Samples from bees for investigation of HPhG and ThG were taken after finishing the feeding. The state of glands was determined in non-flying 5-10-day worker bees (30 from each colony). The 4-point scale of Hess (in rates, Maurizio, 1954) is used for establishing the degree of development of hypopharyngeal glands. The diameter of 10 glandular blebs of HPhG of each bee is additionally measured. Height and diameter of 10 glandular tubes are measured and their volume is calculated for determining the degree of development of the thoracic glands of each bee. Binocular loupe MBS-1 with ocular micrometer is used for measurement. It is established that with the highest degree of development are HPhG of worker bees (3.90±0.06 rates and 0.102±0.0017 mm diameter of glandular blebs), receiving with their food ‘VFG’ – respectively, 1.06 and 1.27 times more than bees from the control group. From the studied stimulating products, the preparation ‘Apidas’ (includes plant extracts) is also with well expressed positive effect on the development of HPhG of bees. The obtained values of the studied parameter in bees receiving ‘Anolyte-7’ (electrochemically activated water solution) and those of the control group are commensurable. Positive influence of preparations ‘Apidas’ and ‘VFG’ on the volume of the measured glandular tubes from the thoracic glands of worker bees is determined. The reported values for volume of glandular tubes in bees receiving with their food the indicated stimulating preparations (0.005 and 0.004 mm3) are 2.0 – 2.5 higher than the studied parameter in bees from the control group (0.002 mm3) and those fed with ‘Anolyte-7’ (0.002 mm3) and ‘Oligofosi’ (0.001 mm3).

The objective of the present study is to examine samples of bee honey of different origin and create models for their classification through spectral analysis in the near infrared spectrum. Representative samples unifloral (sunflower, acacia, lime and coriander), multifloral and honeydew honey are used. The origin of the above honey samples has been determined in advance by pollen analysis. The spectral measurement (NIR spectroscopy) of each sample was done non-destructively, by measuring the diffuse reflection of the honey samples using the spectral device NIRQuest 512 within the range 900–1700 nm. The spectral differences between the different types of bee honey have been studied. For classification of the samples based on their spectra the SIMCA method (Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy) was used. Models for distinguishing different types of bee honey – unifloral, multifloral and honeydew – have been obtained. The results show 100% accuracy of classification of the samples from the three groups based on the received spectral information. The most compact is the group of honeydew honey.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of supplementary honey and artificial sugar feeding of bees on the composition of royal jelly. A total of 29 royal jelly samples were harvested and analyzed from May to August 2012. The results obtained show the following values for royal jelly samples harvested from bee colonies fed with sugar solution: water content (58.30–63.50%), proteins (15.04–18.79%), fructose (4.30–6.91%), glucose (2.87–4.43%), sucrose (1.39–4.19%), pH (3.65–4.18), total acidity (3.69–4.46 ml 0.1 N NaOH/g), electrical conductivity (166.00–214.00 μS/cm). The respective physicochemical parameters in royal jelly samples produced by feeding with honey were: water content (59.70–63.70%), proteins (15.28–18.53%), fructose (3.96–6.74%), glucose (2.64–4.49%), sucrose (1.40–3.87%), pH (3.76–4.19), total acidity (3.69–4.66 ml 0.1 N NaOH/g), electrical conductivity (174.00–191.00 μS/cm). Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the physico-chemical parameters (water content, proteins, fructose, glucose, sucrose, pH, total acidity, electrical conductivity) in the feeding experiment. These data show that the studied types of feeding do not influence the royal jelly composition. These results, however, are not only essential from scientific point of view. They have also practical purposes and are important for beekeepers who produce royal jelly.

The study was conducted in the spring and autumn of 2011 at the Experimental apiary of the Agricultural and Stockbreeding Experimental Station (ASES), Smolyan and at the private apiary of Mitev’s bee farm, Smolyan. For stimulating feeding of the bee colonies are used products “Vita Feed Gold”, “Ecophil-P”, “Apidas”, “Oligofosi” and “Anolyte -7”. To each family are provided a total of 5 l of sugar syrup for the individual periods (spring and autumn), 500 ml are given in the feeding troughs of hives at intervals of 2–3 days. The measurements of the studied indications are done with a measuring frame (size 5 x 5 squares cm) in 12 days. Some parameters are: strength of bee colonies (kg); volume of sealed worker brood and egg productivity of queen bees (number of cells). During the spring test a clear positive impact of “Vita Feed Gold” and “Apidas” is found. The influence of the other detergents for stimulating individual apiaries is comparable to that of the control feeding only with sugar solution. The results obtained during the autumn period of the study show that the specified values for strength of bee colonies fed with “Apidas” and “Anolyte -7” are 125.26% and 131.58% higher than this indicator in the control group. For the amount of sealed worker brood were recorded higher values for the bee colonies that received “Anolyte -7” (125.47%), “Apidas” (110.56%) and “Vita Feed Gold” (111,3% ) compared to the control. The results show that “Ecophil-P” and “Oligofosi” do not have clear stimulating effect on the development of colonies in both periods of the study.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the composition and physico-chemical properties of fresh royal jelly(RJ) samples from Sofia (n=5), Lovech (n=5) and Varna (n=3), produced from May to August 2011. The samples were kept frozen at -20° C before analysis. The parameters of royal jelly samples obtained from Sofia region varied within the following ranges: water content (61.7 – 65.2%), proteins (15.07 – 16.85%), fructose (3.73 – 5.05%), glucose (2.01 – 3.70%), sucrose (1.50 – 2.27%), total sugars (8.05 – 10.37%), pH (3.94 – 4.06), total acidity (3.86 – 4.51 ml 0.1 N NaOH/g) and electrical conductivity (180 – 206 μS/cm). The samples from Lovech region gave the following results: water content (59.10 – 62.70%), proteins (16.84 – 19.63%), fructose (4.07 – 5.47%), glucose (3.69 – 5.28%), sucrose (0.36 – 3.59%), total sugars (8.12 – 13.48%), pH (3.86 – 3.97), total acidity (3.68 – 4.42 ml 0.1 N NaOH/g) and electrical conductivity (196 – 216 μS/cm). Fructose, glucose, sucrose and total sugars contents are in the range 3.64–4.27%, 2.69 – 5.87%, 2.28 – 3.44%, 9.15 – 12.87%, respectively for the samples from Varna region. The minimum and maximum values for other parameters are: water content (63.30 – 65.80%), proteins (12.23 – 13.08%), pH (3.60 – 3.70), total acidity (2.48 – 4.23 ml 0.1 N NaOH/g), electrical conductivity (173 – 181 μS/cm). Because of the small number of samples and absence of information about additional feeding of bees with sugar solution, it should be insufficient to draw conclusion about the prevalence of glucose or fructose in fresh royal jelly. This work indicated slight differences between the obtained results of royal jelly samples from three regions of Bulgaria.

Sample taking was carried out in the active bee season of 2010 (June – July) in order to make a comparative analysis of the content of some heavy metals and metalloids (copper Cu, zinc Zn, lead Pb, cadmium Cd, nickel Ni, cobalt Co, manganese Mn, iron Fe) in the body of bees (Apis mellifera L.), fecal mass, bee products (honey, pollen, wax) and sunflower flowers in areas with different degree of anthropogenic impact. The study includes two settlements in Stara Zagora region: the town of Gurkovo – an area with low level of anthropogenic impact; the village of Bratya Kunchevi – an area with established anthropogenic impact (working stone quarry on the territory of the village). Accumulation of the studied heavy metals and metalloids in the bee fecal mess is observed and high level of accumulation in excrements is exhibited by lead (1:2,3 – 1:4,0), cadmium (1:1,6 – 1:1,9), nickel (1:4,2 – 1:4,3), cobalt (1:1,6 -1:2,0). The biobarrier function of the bee organism is proved as a result of which heavy and toxic metals such as lead and cadmium are efficiently excreted by the organism through the fecal mass. It is established that Fe content is of higher values in the bee body, pollen and wax in the station village of Bratya Kunchevi (compared to the samples in the town of Gurkovo). A possible reason for the reported high quantity of iron in the analysed samples of the village of Bratya Kunchevi could be the working stone quarry on the territory of the village operating a deposition of andesite tuffs (calcium-magnesium-iron silicates). Unsatisfactory indicator characteristics of bee honey for environmental quality have been established in areas with different degree of anthropogenic impact compared to bee organism and pollen.

One of the commitments that Bulgaria has undertaken on the road to accession to the European Union is the overall (economic and social) adaptation of underprivileged people. The process of adaptation involves creating conditions for the development of tourism for handicapped people. The objective of the present study is to show the opportunities and obstacles in the development of tourism business in Bulgaria for the underprivileged people and compiling a system of prescriptive measures for solving the outlined problems. It has been established that in Bulgaria it is necessary to adapt the tourism business since handicapped people and their families cannot enjoy their right of recreation and tourism. There are sufficient resources available in the country – natural recreation, anthropogenic, human and legislative regulation to offer adapted tourism, which will be competitive on the international tourism market as well; economic activity has great social significance and can be profitable for the tourism business. The approved practices in a number of EU countries comprise a serious argument in favour of investments for adapting the tourism environment.

Bee colonies, equilized by the method of analogues, were reared free and isolated and were additionally fed stimulatingly and intensively with Isosweet 77555P (IST) (purified and concentrated water solution of saccharides – 55% fructose and 40% glucose). No negative effect on the organoleptic characteristics of samples obtained after feeding with sugar solution (1:1) was found. Upon assessment of sample flavour and taste according to the German legislation, in the control, I and II groups normal flavour and taste typical for honey have been recorded (by 5 points). The most significant changes in the organoleptic characteristics of the studied samples have been recorded in the III group with the flavour and taste characteristics. Flavour and taste not typical for honey have been found in the stimulating feeding of bee colonies and their cage rearing in cells (2x2x2 m.), while in intensive additional feeding flavour was lacking and the taste was not typical for honey with a bitter note. At the assessment according to the German legislation, flavour and taste not typical for honey have been recorded with the stimulating feeding (1 point), while with the intensive additional feeding with IST flavour was lacking (0 points), there was slightly bitter taste, alien to honey (0 points).