ColEval: Honeybee COLony Structure EVALuation for Field Surveys

Abstract

Methods for the evaluation and comparison of the structure of numerous honeybee colonies are needed for the development of applied and fundamental field research, as well as to evaluate how the structure and activity of honeybee colonies evolve over time. ColEval complements existing methods, as it uses an online reference image bank for (human) learning and training purposes. ColEval is based on the evaluation of the surface area percentage occupied by different components of a honeybee colony: adult worker bees, open and capped brood, honey, nectar, and pollen. This method is an essential tool for the description of the evolution in the size of honeybee colonies. The procedure makes allowances for tendencies between different observers and uses them to calculate accurate measurements of honeybee colony evaluation. ColEval thus allows for a posteriori comparison of under- or over-evaluation made by different observers working on the same project; it is thus possible to eliminate observer bias in the measurements and to conduct large surveys.

Preliminary report of honeybee physiological changes pre- and post-hybrid lavender season in high and low weight gain colonies

“…Each colony was placed over an individual pallet, and the pallet with its colony was lifted for 30 s. This enabled us to weigh each colony on-site without displacing or opening it and with no other intervention except when smoking was necessary. (ii) Colonies were evaluated with the ColEVaL method, a quantitative description of adult honeybees and brood surface (Hernandez et al 2020) (data not shown). The weighing method and ColEval were designed to exert minimum stress on honeybee colonies.…”

Descriptive Analysis of the Varroa Non-Reproduction Trait in Honey Bee Colonies and Association with Other Traits Related to Varroa Resistance

“…Colony dynamics were monitored using the ColEval method [42]. The number of bees, the number of open and capped brood cells, and the quantity of honey and pollen were estimated on average once a month across the whole beekeeping season (from March to October).…”

Descriptive Analysis of the Varroa Non-reproduction Trait in Honey Bee Colonies and Association with Other Traits Related to Varroa Resistance

“…Colony dynamics was monitored using the ColEval method [41]. The number of bees, the number of open and capped brood cells, and the quantity of honey and pollen were estimated on average once a month across the whole beekeeping season.…”