Biometrics of Natural Nest of Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana F.) as Observed in Northern Thailand

Abstract

A study of the biometrics of the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana F.) from natural log nests in northern Thailand in 2009 was conducted by examining 10 colonies in the dry season (November-May) and 14 colonies in the wet season (June-October). The results showed that an average adult population of A. cerana in the dry season was 13,499 bees/colony, with 12,922 adult worker bees/colony and 577 drone bees/colony. In the wet season, the total of adults was less than in dry season with an average of 8,654 bees/colony, and with 8,574 worker bees/colony and 80 drone bees/colony. The average percentage of all brood in the dry season was 6,910 immature bees/colony, the worker brood population was 5,977 immature bees/colony (average = 628 eggs, 963 larvae and 4,386 pupae) and the drone brood population was 933 immature bees/colony (average =40 eggs, 135 larvae and 758 pupae). In the wet season, the average all brood population was 5,103 immature bees/colony, the worker brood population was 5,039 (average = 452 eggs, 1,038 larvae and 3,549 pupae) and drone brood population was 64 immature bees/colony (average = 5 eggs, 1 larva and 58 pupae). The nest volumes of A. cerana collected in dry and wet season averaged 18.7 l and 12.6 l respectively. The honey bee nest occupied a larger volume of the cavity in dry season (56.8%) than in wet season (37.5%). The only significant difference between colonies in the dry season and the wet season was in the production of drones and presence of adult drones. The results of this research may lead to better understanding of A. cerana population size and nest cavity preference.