Pollinator behaviour and activity in colonies of Apis mellifera in confined environments

Abstract

The honey bee is a pollinator which gives satisfactory results with protected crops. Pollination of flowers by field-bees and the development of colonies used for pollination in confined environments are closely related. The structural characteristics and the type of covering of the artificial environment, as well as the time when the colony is placed in situ and the length of the residences often influence the activity and survival of these insects. Observations made during the period of strawberry blossom have shown the possibility of colony adaptation to particular semicircular tunnels and plastic film covered greenhouses with side openings. Colonies with small numbers of adults and brood cells adapted better than stronger ones to protected conditions over a 3-week period. Colony growth was inversely proportional to the initial size of the nucleus. Among factors inhibiting flight and colony development was relative humidity above 80%, which causes the protozoon Nosema apis to proliferate, giving rise to nosemiasis.

KEY WORDS:

• honey bees
• confined environment
• insect behaviour