Abstract
The trap occupancy rate and colony development parameters of swarms of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis in coconut shell traps was studied in the research farm of ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) Bengaluru, Yelahanka campus Karnataka, India. The trap occupancy rate by the stingless bees was 44.87% in a time period of 13.40 ± 4.38 days. New cells were constructed by the bees in 12.10 ± 2.13 days. The number of honey and pollen pots filled was 15.60 ± 3.92 and 6.61 ± 2.95, respectively. The brood cells were constructed 89.50 ± 6.07 days after acceptance of the shell traps with an average of 67.70 ± 20.83 brood cells per trap. The foragers preferred foraging for nectar, resin and pollen during the 15, 30 and 45 days after acceptance of the coconut shells for nesting. Coconut shell traps are easiest and economic way of trapping the swarming population of stingless bees.
Highlights
Stingless bees Tetragonula iridipennis (Apidae: Hymenoptera), are eusocial, corbiculate with perennial colonies, polylectic, no/rudimentary sting, amenable for conservation and colony maintenance, forager recruitment behaviour, ability to store more food resources in hive unlike honeybees (Roubik, 1984; Leonhardt et al, 2007; Kumar et al, 2012)
The coconut shell traps were accepted by the stingless bees in a time period of 13.40 ± 4.38 days
The swarms accepted the traps in a two weeks time period
Summary
Stingless bees Tetragonula iridipennis (Apidae: Hymenoptera), are eusocial, corbiculate with perennial colonies, polylectic, no/rudimentary sting, amenable for conservation and colony maintenance, forager recruitment behaviour, ability to store more food resources in hive unlike honeybees (Roubik, 1984; Leonhardt et al, 2007; Kumar et al, 2012). They construct their nests in hollows of tree trunks, stone walls, mud walls, corners of walls, crevices, termite mounds and other concealed places with proper insulation (Muthuraman & Thirugnanasambantam, 2003; Rasmussen & Camargo, 2008; Suriawanto et al, 2017). After locating the new site, the foragers start building the nest by transporting the materials from the mother nests, actively forage for resources and build the storage pots in the new nest
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