Fostering Colony Growth Post Division: Earthen Pot Hives for Stingless Bees, Tetragonula sp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v73i3.12765Keywords:
Earthen pots, colony development, storage pots, Tetragonula sp., nest architectureAbstract
Stingless bee colony multiplication is vital for expanding agricultural pollination and sustainable honey production, yet it is often constrained by slow natural establishment after division in standard hive systems. This study evaluated the use of red earthen pots as an ideal, natural artificial hive to facilitate the successful division and management of stingless bee colonies. Three different hive types, viz., wooden square hives, red earthen pots, and wooden rectangular hives, were evaluated for the colony establishment after division. Significantly greater percentage of colony establishment was recorded in red earthen pots (62.55%) with initiation of forage activity in a lesser time period (8.80 ± 0.84 days). The study found that using localized red earthen pots will help in faster colony establishment after division and sustainable multiplication. Internal hive architecture, such as the pillars and involucrum, was recorded at a significantly shorter period after colony division in red earthen pots (6.40 ± 1.14 days). They provide a durable, porous, and well-insulated environment that mimics natural tree hollows, protecting the brood from heat and moisture and enabling faster colony establishment. Pot hives provide a sustainable alternative to wooden boxes and allow for easy inspection and harvesting for hobbyists.
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