This work was done at the experimental station of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region (UFERSA) in Mossoró, Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the surface temperature of the bees and heat transfer between body regions of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in hives under sun and shade conditions in the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil. Twelve colonies of Africanized honeybees housed in Langstroth hives were used. The body surface temperature of the bees was measured using a mini infrared thermometer (Fluke model 62). The climatological data were obtained through a meteorological station. The comparison of means was performed by the Tukey-Kramer test (p < 0.01), and data analysis using the Statistical Analysis System software. The body temperatures of the bees are not homogeneous and fluctuate throughout the day, in accordance with the environmental variations. The temperature of the thorax is generally higher, followed by the head and abdomen. The head and the abdomen are parts of the body for which the excess temperature of the thorax is transferred, with the head being the main one. The bees that were in the shade, managed to keep their body temperatures at relatively normal levels, while the bees that were in the sun, had a considered increase of its surface body temperatures higher than 2 °C, being necessary the activation of mechanisms of heat loss, and consequently there is a deviation of energy that could be used for other activities within the colony.
Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are abundant and widely adaptable insects that spread rapidly in tropical environments. However, their strong defensive instinct can lead to attacks on humans and animals, causing disturbances in cities. This study aimed to evaluate the nesting characteristics of Africanized honeybees in Mossoró, RN, to generate relevant information for the control of the population of these insects and prevent accidents in urban areas in the Brazilian Semiarid. This survey was conducted from April 2015 to March 2018. The following information on swarms was collected from 487 recorded occurrences: date of survey, structure of the bee site, occurrence of nesting, population size, defensiveness of the bees, and presence of queen and drones. Although the swarms reproduced throughout the year, the breeding of queens and drones increased in the rainy season (January-June). Peak swarming occurred in April-September, when there is greater availability of flowers in the region and the average ambient temperature is mild. The swarms adopted a generalist approach when choosing their nesting site, occupying structures such as tires, tree trunks, buckets, sewage, and cardboard boxes. Most swarms were found in open sites (exposed swarms). The Africanized honeybees were more selective when looking for a nest construction site than when looking for a temporary site for landing and resting. The swarms were generally small (up to 20,000 bees) and not very defensive, which facilitated their rescue in populous urban areas.
In the Semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, adverse environmental conditions such as high radiation and temperature affect the balance of homeostasis of the colonies of Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). This research aimed to evaluate the rate of acceptance of Africanized honey bees larvae (Important stage of process of queen-rearing) in hives installed in the shade and under full sunlight in the semiarid climate of Northeastern Brazil. 10 colonies of honeybees (5 in the shade and 5 under full sunlight) were orphaned and prepared with young workers and food, having standardized biomass (equal population conditions) to receive frames containing 60-100 queen cell cups with larvae up to 24 hour-old. The acceptance percentage of transferred or grafted larvae to each colony was measured 72 hours after carrying out transfers and means were compared by the Student's t-test at 5% probability. The colonies under shade conditions showed acceptance rate of 68.82 ± 17.03%, significantly higher (P = 0.0044) than the colonies subjected to direct sunlight with only 52.13 ± 16.29%. Thus, for the production of queens and royal jelly of Africanized honeybees in the semiarid climate of Northeast Brazil, it is strongly recommended the installation of apiaries in shady locations. Taxa de aceitação de larvas de abelhas africanizadas em colmeias mantidas em sombreamento e sob exposição solar direta no Nordeste Brasileiro RESUMONo Semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro, as condições adversas do ambiente como alta radiação e temperatura afetam o equilíbrio da homeostase das colônias de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.). Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a porcentagem de aceitação de larvas de abelhas africanizadas (etapa importante do processo de produção de rainha) em colmeias instaladas à sombra e sob radiação direta do sol na região semiárida do Nordeste Brasileiro. Para isso, 10 colônias (5 no sol e 5 na sombra) foram orfanadas e tiveram a biomassa padronizada para receber quadros portando de 60 a 100 cúpulas contendo larvas com até 24 horas de vida. O percentual de aceitação das larvas transferidas para cada colônia foi avaliado 72 horas após a realização das transferências e os dados foram comparadas pelo teste tStudent a 5% de probabilidade. As colônias sob condições de sombra apresentaram taxa de aceitação de 68,82 ± 17,03%, sendo significativamente maior (P = 0,0044) do que as colônias submetidas à radiação direta do sol, com apenas 52,13 ± 16,29%. Conclui-se que para a produção de rainhas e de geleia real de abelhas africanizadas no semiárido nordestino, torna-se extremamente recomendável a instalação de apiários em locais sombreados.Ricardo Gonçalves Santos et al.
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