| Peer-Reviewed

Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii)

Received: 27 June 2019     Accepted: 22 July 2019     Published: 5 August 2019
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) colonies build nests of varying characteristics which differ between races and different ecologies. To gain insight into details of natural nest characteristics of local honeybees and its implications in movable frame hive designing, natural bee space, comb spacing and worker brood cell dimensions of Apis mellifera bandasii (A. m. bandasii) were assessed across different altitudinal ranges through measuring their dimensions from naturally constructed combs in traditional hives. Moreover, comb spacing and bee space in movable frame hives from different local workshops were also measured. In addition, optimum comb thickness and bee space requirement were assessed by keeping local honeybee colonies in Kenya Top Bar (KTB) hives with different top bar widths. Accordingly, the average natural bee space, comb spacing, inside width of worker brood cells and worker brood cell/dm2 were 10.04 ± 2.23 mm, 33.70 ± 1.84 mm, 4.64 ± 0.13 mm and 1060.92 ± 14.24, respectively. The worker brood comb thickness, cell depth and bee space were significantly (p < 0.05) different across altitudinal ranges. Moreover, local honeybee colonies under natural conditions were found to build significantly narrower comb spacing in their brood nests than the frame spacing in movable frame box hives. The result from experimental colonies kept in KTB hives of varying top bar widths revealed that increasing comb spacing had no effect on comb thicknesses, while it significantly increased the bee space. This also confirmed that A. m. bandasii needs less comb spacing than the space in movable frame box hives currently used. The study implies the vital importance of considering natural nest comb spacing and cells dimensions in designing and constructing movable frame box hives and accessories that match with local honeybees’ biological requirement which may contribute to enhance the productivity of the race.

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12
Page(s) 61-67
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Apis mellifera bandasii, Bee space, Comb Spacing, Cell Dimensions, Traditional Hive

References
[1] Winston ML, Taylor OR, Otis GW, Winston ML, Taylor OR, Otis GW, et al. Some Differences between Temperate European and Tropical African and South American Honeybees. Bee World. 1983: 64: 12–21.
[2] Schmidt JO, Hurley R. Selection of nest cavities by Africanized and European honey bees. Apidologie. 1995: 26: 467–475. H.
[3] Gallo V, Chittka L. Cognitive Aspects of Comb-Building in the Honeybee ? Front Psycology. 2018: 9: 900.
[4] Ruttner F. Biogeography and Taxonomy of Honeybees. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag: 1988.
[5] Szabo TI. Effect of Colony Size and Ambient Temperature on Comb Building and Sugar Consumption by Honeybees. J Apic Res. 1977: 16: 174–183.
[6] FAO. Tropic and sub-tropical apiculture, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 68. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: 1986.
[7] Jones R. Beekeeping as business. Pall Mall, London: Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House: 1999.
[8] Bradbear N. Bees and their role in forest livelihoods: A guide to the services provided by bees and the sustainable harvesting, processing and marketing of their products, Non-wood forest products 19. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: 2009.
[9] Crane E. Bees and beekeeping: Science, practice & World Resources. Oxford: Heinemann Newnes: 1990.
[10] Leven L van ’t, Boot W-J, Mutsaers M, Segeren P, Velthuis H. Beekeeping in the tropics, Agrodok-series No. 32. Wageningen: Agromisa Foundation and CTA: 2005.
[11] Adgaba N, Al-Ghamdi AA, Getachew A, Tadesse Y, Almaktary A, Ansari MJ, et al. Natural nest characteristics of Apis mellifera jemenitica (Hymenoptera: apidae) and its implications in frame hive adoption. J Anim Plant Sci. 2016: 26: 1156–1163.
[12] Amssalua B, Nuru A, Radloff SE, Hepburn HR. Multivariate morphometric analysis of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the Ethiopian region. Apidologie. 2004: 35: 3–13.
[13] Seeley T. Measurement of Nest Cavity Volume by the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). Behav Ecol Sociobiol. 1977: 2: 201–227.
[14] Faji M, Abebe A, Mijena D, Begna F, Tarekegn A. Determination of bee spacing and comb cell dimensions for Apis mellifera scutellata honeybee race in western Ethiopia. Int J Livest Prod. 2018: 9: 206–210.
[15] Meixner M, Koeniger N, Koeniger G. The mountain bees of the Kilimanjaro region and their relation to neighbouring bee populations. Apidologie. 1989: 20: 165–174.
[16] Tilahun M, Gebreanenia B, Gebremariam B. Natural comb building preferences of Apis mellifera honeybees in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. J Drylands. 2017: 7: 675–682.
[17] Teffera A, Sahile GS. On-farm evalution of bee space of Langstroth beehive. Livest Res Rural Dev. 2011: 23: 1–7.
[18] Segeren P. Beekeeping in the tropics, Agrodok-series No. 32. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Agromisa Foundation: 2004.
[19] Hepburn HR, Whiffler L. Construction defects define pattern and method in comb building by honeybees. Apidologie. 1991: 22: 381–388.
[20] Winston ML. The Biology and Management of Africanized Honey Bees. Annu Rev Entomol. 1992: 37: 173–93.
[21] Adjare SO. Beekeeping in Africa. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 68/6. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: 1990.
[22] Seeley TD, Morse RA. The Nest of the Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.). Insectes Soc. 1976: 23: 495-512.
[23] Yang M, Tan K, Radloff SE, Phiancharoen M, Hepburn HR. Comb construction in mixed-species colonies of honeybees, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera. J Exp Biol. 2010: 213: 1659–1664.
[24] Kronenberg F, Heller HC. Colonial thermoregulation in honey bees (Apis mellifera). J Comp Physiol B. 1982: 148: 65–76.
[25] Simpson J. Nest climate regulation in honey bee colonies. Science. 1961: 133: 1327–1333.
[26] Szentgyörgyi H, Czekońska K, Tofilski A. Honey bees are larger and live longer after developing at low temperature. J Therm Biol. 2018: 78: 219–226.
[27] Wang Q, Xu X, Zhu X, Chen L, Zhou S. Low-Temperature Stress during Capped Brood Stage Increases Pupal Mortality, Misorientation and Adult Mortality in Honey Bees. PLoS One. 2016: 11: e0154547.
[28] Saucy F. On the natural cell size of European honey bees : A " fatal error " or distortion of historical data? J Apic Res. 2014: 53: 327–336.
[29] Hepburn HR. Comb Construction by the African Honeybee, Apis mellifera adansonii. J Entomol Soc South Afr. 1983: 46: 87–101.
[30] Piccirillo GA, Jong D De. The influence of brood comb cell size on the reproductive behavior of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor in Africanized honey bee colonies. Genet Mol Res. 2003: 2: 36–42.
[31] Winston ML. The Biology of the Honey Bee. Cambridge, London: Harvard University Press: 1987.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Zewdu Ararso Hora. (2019). Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii). American Journal of Life Sciences, 7(3), 61-67. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Zewdu Ararso Hora. Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii). Am. J. Life Sci. 2019, 7(3), 61-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Zewdu Ararso Hora. Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii). Am J Life Sci. 2019;7(3):61-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12,
      author = {Zewdu Ararso Hora},
      title = {Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii)},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {61-67},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20190703.12},
      abstract = {Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) colonies build nests of varying characteristics which differ between races and different ecologies. To gain insight into details of natural nest characteristics of local honeybees and its implications in movable frame hive designing, natural bee space, comb spacing and worker brood cell dimensions of Apis mellifera bandasii (A. m. bandasii) were assessed across different altitudinal ranges through measuring their dimensions from naturally constructed combs in traditional hives. Moreover, comb spacing and bee space in movable frame hives from different local workshops were also measured. In addition, optimum comb thickness and bee space requirement were assessed by keeping local honeybee colonies in Kenya Top Bar (KTB) hives with different top bar widths. Accordingly, the average natural bee space, comb spacing, inside width of worker brood cells and worker brood cell/dm2 were 10.04 ± 2.23 mm, 33.70 ± 1.84 mm, 4.64 ± 0.13 mm and 1060.92 ± 14.24, respectively. The worker brood comb thickness, cell depth and bee space were significantly (p A. m. bandasii needs less comb spacing than the space in movable frame box hives currently used. The study implies the vital importance of considering natural nest comb spacing and cells dimensions in designing and constructing movable frame box hives and accessories that match with local honeybees’ biological requirement which may contribute to enhance the productivity of the race.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Characterization of Natural Bee Space and Cell Dimensions of Honeybees of Central Ethiopia (Apis mellifera bandasii)
    AU  - Zewdu Ararso Hora
    Y1  - 2019/08/05
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12
    T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    SP  - 61
    EP  - 67
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5737
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20190703.12
    AB  - Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) colonies build nests of varying characteristics which differ between races and different ecologies. To gain insight into details of natural nest characteristics of local honeybees and its implications in movable frame hive designing, natural bee space, comb spacing and worker brood cell dimensions of Apis mellifera bandasii (A. m. bandasii) were assessed across different altitudinal ranges through measuring their dimensions from naturally constructed combs in traditional hives. Moreover, comb spacing and bee space in movable frame hives from different local workshops were also measured. In addition, optimum comb thickness and bee space requirement were assessed by keeping local honeybee colonies in Kenya Top Bar (KTB) hives with different top bar widths. Accordingly, the average natural bee space, comb spacing, inside width of worker brood cells and worker brood cell/dm2 were 10.04 ± 2.23 mm, 33.70 ± 1.84 mm, 4.64 ± 0.13 mm and 1060.92 ± 14.24, respectively. The worker brood comb thickness, cell depth and bee space were significantly (p A. m. bandasii needs less comb spacing than the space in movable frame box hives currently used. The study implies the vital importance of considering natural nest comb spacing and cells dimensions in designing and constructing movable frame box hives and accessories that match with local honeybees’ biological requirement which may contribute to enhance the productivity of the race.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Holeta Bee Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Holeta, Ethiopia

  • Sections