Indian Journal of Entomology
Open Access
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2020
  • Volume: 82
  • Issue: 2

Architectural design of stingless bee hives

1Division of Crop Protection, ICAR Research Complex for North East Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya

Department of Entomology, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema, 797106, Nagaland

*Email: malar2uads@gmail.com (corresponding author)

Online published on 21 July, 2020.

Abstract

Stingless bee colonies were collected from different altitudes of Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Thirty four colonies of Lepidotrigona arcifera were successfully domiciled. Three hive types were designed, viz., Mo = Natural hive (NH), M1= Bamboo hives (BH) and M2 = Log artificial hive (LAH) for better establishment of colonies. These were kept at two heights [two feet above the ground (Ho) and five feet (H1) above the ground]. Wooden hives yielded 665 ml/hive/season as compared to bamboo and natural hives. The rate of colony establishment was best in wooden hive followed by natural hive. Bamboo hive failed to establish perennial colony while wooden hives performed better.

Keywords

Lepidotrigona arcifera, wooden hives, bamboo hives, natural hives, rearing, acceptance, honey yield, performance