Adaptability of stingless bees to different hives

Issue Date

10-2011

Abstract

Evaluation of five different designs as potential hives for stingless bees was done for a period of six months at the Regional Apiculture Center Apiary, CBSUA, Pili, Camarines Sur.The objectives were: to determine the brood development and behaviour of T. biroi in different hives; to determine the production efficiency of honey, pollen, propolis by the stingless bees cultured in different hive designs; to identify factors that may influence the adaptability of bees and production of bee by-products in the different hive designs. The five hives were: 1) KITH type (modified), 2) Japanese hive (OATH), 3) Rafael's hive (apartment type), 4) clay jars and 5) traditional method using halved coconut shells. Results showed that in terms of brood developed, it was the traditional hive using coconut shells which produced the highest number, followed by the Apartment type and KITH type. Abiotic factors such as rainfall, temperature and wind velocity as well as biotic factors (wax moth, ants, mites, larvae of a dipteral)) affected brood development. More honey pots were produced on coconut shells followed by the apartment type, KITH type and OATH type while no pots in the clay jars. Both the coconut shell and KITH type produced more pollen pots, followed by the Rafael's apartment type.No pollen pots were found on the clay jars and OATH type. The coconut shell hive had more propolis produced followed by the KITH and apartment types. More by-products were produced during the honey flow season than during the non-honey flow season in coconut shells, and least on clay jars. For honey and pollen production, the Rafael's apartment type showed a great potential.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

25

Issue

2

Page

210

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

MELIPONA; APIDAE; HONEY BEES; POLLEN; HIVES; ADAPTABILITY

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