The survivability and behaviour of worker bees of the Middle European, Carnolian and Caucasian breed at low air temperature was examined. Worker bees were individually placed in plastic cages and exposed to low temperatures - 5, 7 and 9°C - in a cooling incubator for a period of 60 and 120 min. After the fixed time elapsed, the number of moving worker bees as well as of chill-coma ones was recorded at a room temperature. The time after which worker bees recovered their vital activity, manifesting in abdomen, legs or antennae motion and assumption of full locomotor efficiency, was determined. All worker bees staying at 5, 7 and 9°C for a period of 60 and 120 min fell into the chill-coma state, irrespective of their breed and age (5, 10, 15 and 20 days). However, the time when bees remained motionless after removal from incubator differed. Worker bees kept at 5°C for, respectively, 60 and 120 min were motionless for the longest time, i.e. 163±71-236±84 s. On the other hand, worker bees exposed to 9°C for 60 min as well as for 120 min were in the chill-coma for the shortest time, i.e. 111±35 and 123±42 s, respectively. The youngest, 5 day old, bees were the most susceptible to low temperature, both to 5, 7 and 9°C. The time of staying motionless in the worker bees examined as well as of returning to full locomotor efficiency was determined by their breed. The Middle European worker bees were being distinguished by the shortest time, whereas the Carnolian ones by the longest.
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