Critical temperatures for survival of brood and adult workers of the giant honeybee, Apis dorsata (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

-Capped brood ( capped within 36 h) and adult workers of Apis dorsata were removed from naturally occurring colonies and kept incubated in laboratory hoarding cages at constant temperatures ranging from 26 to 45 o C to study mortality, survivorship, and water and syrup consumption. Capped brood died at temperatures above 36 o C. Below 30 o C adults tended to emerge deformed. Low temperatures delayed development. The optimal temperature for complete emergence of healthy adult workers was 34 o C. Adult workers survived well from about 26 to 36 o C. At 38 o C they died within 5 days and at 45 o C they died within 48 hours. Although syrup (1 sugar: 1 water W/W) consumption did not change over the range of temperatures used, water consumption rose rapidly above 38 o C to over 3 ml/bee in 48 hours at 45 o C. Nest temperature control is critical for survival of brood of A. dorsata and adult worker bees have tight constraints on their abilities to endure high temperatures. Water availability is vital for cooling the colony under hot, tropical conditions, and rearing healthy brood.Apis dorsata/ optimal temperature/ thermoregulation/ tropical Asia/ brood/ workers

Pollen substitutes increase honey bee haemolymph protein levels as much as or more than does pollen

“…Groups of 100 newly emerged Africanized honey bees, collected from three different colonies in an apiary in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, were mixed and placed into hoarding cages (Kulincevic and Rothenbuhler, 1973;Mardan and Kevan, 2002). The cages with bees were maintained in an incubator, with no light, at 30ºC and about 70% relative humidity.…”

Senescence in the worker honey bee Apis Mellifera

“…Heat stress-We exposed bees to 42°C in an incubator; colonies typically maintain their hives at approximately 34°C by behavioral thermoregulation, and it has been reported (Mardan and Kevan, 2002) that bees kept at 42°C showed decreased longevity. Bees were kept at 42°C until they died.…”

Climeto-Cylic Immigrations with Declining Population of Wild Honeybee, Apis Dorsata F. In Chitwan Valley, Nepal

“…Lindauer (1956), Morse and Benton (1967), Reddy (1980) and Seeley et al (1982) also found the similar, non disturbed nesting sites of A. dorsata throughout South and South-east Asia. Mardan (1989) and Crane (1990) explained the nest site chosen by A. dorsata swarms for nesting was usually not directly exposed to wind currents and partially sheltered. Swarms closer to the old nest sites got first opportunity to occupy the protective nest sites and also exploited natural and cultivated flora for their survival, growth and development.…”