22 Ara 2024 Pazar
Impact of hive dimension and fight entrance on hive colonization, pest infestation and hive weight gain in Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Abstract :Four hive types [Kenya top bars hive with flight entrance on the floor (KF), Kenya top bars hive with flight entrance on the wall (KW), Kenya top bars hive with flight entrance on the floor and the wall (KFW) and Tanzania top bars with flight entrance on the floor and the wall (TFW)] were constructed and baited by smearing 30 g bee wax on their flight entrance, top bars, inner surface of the wall and floor on 17th April 2008. Colonization, colony development and pest infestation were monitored over a period of 16 weeks. Hive type did not significantly (P>0.05) affect colonization period. All hive types were colonized with 100% colonization in TFW and KF. KW and KFW had 66.67% colonization. The least mean colonization period was 3.67 days after hive installation and was observed in KF, while the longest colonization period of 7 days was observed in KFW. Hive type did not affect weight gain ranged from 0.3 kg (TFW at 2 weeks after colonization) to 2.5 kg (KF at 8 weeks after colonization). Bee population was significantly affected by hive type and was lowest in TFW which was the only hive type that was heavily (2/3 of the replicates) infested by Galleria mellonella, hence the reason for its lowest weight and bee population. Aethina tumida was encountered in KT and KF. Both pests were observed in colonized hives. The only intruder that was observed in uncolonized hive was Gryllus bimaculatus and was encountered in KFW. With 100% colonization and least mean colonization period of 3.67 days post installation of baited hives in Kenya top bar with flight entrance on the floor (KF), KF is recommended for areas where the risk of accidental rain water into hive is not paramount
Top bar hive, hive type, hive colonization, fight entrance, hive dimension, honey bee pests, colony weight gain