Nesting Behaviour of Indian Honeybees I. Differentiation of Worker, Queen and Drone Cells on the Combs of<i>Apis Dorsata</i>Fab

Thakar, C. V.; Tonapi, K. V.

doi:10.1080/0005772x.1961.11096845

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The basic nest architecture of the three Asian honeybees has already been described (Lindauer 1956, Muttoo 1956, Thakar and Tonapi 1961, 1962, Morse and Laigo 1969, Sakagami and Yoshikawa 1973, Akratanakul 1977, Deodikar eta!. 1977.…”

Section: Nest Architecturementioning

confidence: 93%

“…Thus A. dorsata nests are difficult for predators to approach unless they can fly or climb skillfully. Other observers (Wallace 1869, Roepke 1930, Ghatge 1949, Lindauer 1956, Muttoo 1956, Thakar and Tonapi 1961, 1962, Singh 1962, Akratanakul 1977, Deodikar et al 1977) report similar nest heights for each of the species, except for Morse and Laigo (1969) who observed A. dorsata in the Phillipines nesting usually below 10 m high.…”

Section: Nest Sitementioning

confidence: 94%

“…Evidently these were the claw marks of an animal (perhaps the Malayan honey bear, see below) which had been atop the limb but had been unable to reach the comb. In regions with cliffs, A. dorsata colonies suspend their nests from the undersides of high ledges (Husain 1938, Lindauer 1956, Muttoo 1956, Thakar and Tonapi 1961, Singh 1962, Deodikar eta!. 1977.…”

Section: Nest Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

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Colony Defense Strategies of the Honeybees in Thailand

Seeley¹,

Seeley²,

Akratanakul³

1982

Ecological Monographs

178

101

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The colony defense strategies of the three honeybee species in Thailand were studied to examine the influence of predation on tropical honeybee societies. Each species focuses its defenses upon different stages in the predation sequence of detection—approach—consumption. This radiation in defense strategies apparently reflects each species' preadaptation by worker size (small, medium—sized, or large) and nest site (cavity or tree branch) to a different pattern of colony defense. Wasps, birds, and primates probably have difficulty finding the small, dispersed colonies of Apis florea, whose nests are built low on the branches of dense, shrubby vegetation. Once found, however, they are easily approached and overpowered because their low, exposed nests are accessible and their small workers inflict relatively painless stings. When overwhelmed, the bees quickly abandon their nest; later, they return to salvage wax. Ants find A. florea nests easily and at least one species (Oecophylla smaragdina) easily kills these small bees. However, sticky bands of resin encircling the nests' slender substrate branches prevent ants from invading A. florea nests. Cavity—nesting colonies of Apis cerana are conspicuous with their medium—sized bees streaming in and out of low, clearly visible entrance holes in caves and hollow tress. However, gaining access to A. cerana nests is difficult. Large predators cannot pass through the small entrance opening and small predators are overpowered by entrance guards. But if a large predator can breach a nest cavity's walls, it faces an only moderately powerful stinging defense. Apis cerana colonies are relatively small and their workers are not fiercely aggressive. Predators easily find the large, sometimes aggregated colonies of Apis dorsata, whose nests hang in the crowns of the tallest forest trees. But only skilled fliers and climbers can reach these lofty nests. Those which do face massive stinging attacks from the large colonies of these relatively giant, ferocious bees. Nests of both open—nesting species, Apis florea and A. dorsata, are protected by a three— to six—layer curtain of bees over the comb. Apis cerana colonies lack these curtains but are protected by their nest cavity walls. A curtain of inactive guards requires a large labor force. The high worker: brood ratio in A. florea relative to A. cerana colonies suggests that the age polyethism schedules of the open— and cavity—nesting species are tuned differently to generate the appropriate proportions of guard bees. Each species' colony defense system consists of numerous interwoven lines of adaptation, including nest site, nest architecture, colony population, labor allocation to defense, age polyethism schedule, colony mobility, and worker morphology, physiology, and behavior. Predation has been a pervasive and powerful force in the evolution of these tropical bee societies.

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Section: Nest Architecturementioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Nest Sitementioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Nest Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Colony Defense Strategies of the Honeybees in Thailand

Seeley¹,

Seeley²,

Akratanakul³

1982

Ecological Monographs

178

101

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A second important feature of A. dorsata biology is frequent colony migration (Butani, 1950;Thaker and Tonapi, 1961;Morse, 1970;Koeniger and Koeniger, 1980;Dyer and Seeley, 1994). Migration follows a seasonal pattern, and may be related to available forage, or to predation (particularly by humans).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colony relatedness in aggregations of Apis dorsata Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Oldroyd

Osborne

Mardan³

2000

Insectes Sociaux

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Apis dorsata colonies often form dense aggregations, with over 100 colonies sometimes seen in the same tree. Reasons for these aggregations are unknown, but one reasonable hypothesis is that colonies form a related family group. Here we show that 7 adjacent colonies sampled from a single branch of a tree (near Alor Setar in northern peninsular Malaysia) containing over 120 colonies were not related as mother/daughter. Thus the notion that aggregations arise through splitting of the first-arriving colonies can be rejected.

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“…The members of this species are furious and attack in mass for defense (Maschwitz, 1963;Frish, 1967;Morse et al, 1967;Koeniger et al, 1979). They are good honey collectors (Thakar and Tonapi, 1961;Singh, 1980), and therefore, important source of honey in Nepal (Shrestha, 2001). The role of these bees as crop pollinators to augment national income through increased bio-diversity and crop production has been forgotten.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%