The effect of volume, ventilation and overheating of bee colonies on the construction of swarming queen cups and cells

Abstract

1. 1. Experiments were carried out during two swarming seasons to study the effects of increased hive volume and ventilation, as well as that of colony overheating on the construction of swarming queen cups and cells, issuing of swarms and honey yields. 2. 2. Queen cups were constructed by all colonies, but their number varied from one year to another. Only one cup, out of 10 or 20, was transformed to a swarming queen cell. 3. 3. Fewer queen cups were transformed to queen cells by colonies maintained inside large-volume hives (low population density) than by congested colonies. 4. 4. Increased hive volume and ventilation exerted an inhibitory effect on the construction of swarming queen cups, cells and on issuing of swarms. 5. 5. Overheating of congested bee colonies significantly affected the early construction of swarming queen cups, cells and their swarming. 6. 6. Although, non-significant at P < 0.05, the honey yields obtained from colonies in high-volume, ventilated hives, were higher than those from control colonies.