The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees

Over a 37-year period, we observed 1011 active bee nests and abandoned combs of Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa in Nepal, India, the Philippines, and Bhutan. This article focuses on the reasons for the different shapes of the nests. We discovered that differing ambient conditions were the reasons fo...

Πλήρης περιγραφή

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Κύριοι συγγραφείς: Woyke Jerzy, Wilde Jerzy, Wilde Maria
Μορφή: Άρθρο
Γλώσσα:English
Έκδοση: Sciendo 2016-06-01
Σειρά:Journal of Apicultural Science
Θέματα:
Διαθέσιμο Online:https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2016-0001
_version_ 1830193264435658752
author Woyke Jerzy
Wilde Jerzy
Wilde Maria
author_facet Woyke Jerzy
Wilde Jerzy
Wilde Maria
author_sort Woyke Jerzy
collection DOAJ
description Over a 37-year period, we observed 1011 active bee nests and abandoned combs of Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa in Nepal, India, the Philippines, and Bhutan. This article focuses on the reasons for the different shapes of the nests. We discovered that differing ambient conditions were the reasons for the following three shapes of symmetrical nests: vertical semi-ellipse, semicircle, and the horizontal semi-ellipse. We noted that asymmetrical nests were constructed when there was lack of space to extend the comb equally in both external directions. An asymmetrical nest also appeared when remnants of a previous comb remained on one edge of the nest. Convex nests were constructed to avoid excess sun exposure. Concave nests appeared as a result of low temperatures during the night and part of the day (Nepal). An L-shape nest was constructed when there was lack of space available to extend the nest in a straight direction. The shape of the nests also determines the way the combs fall.
first_indexed 2024-12-18T00:09:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a32f7bfb901b4810a80ff2fbec415ff5
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2299-4831
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-18T00:09:46Z
publishDate 2016-06-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series Journal of Apicultural Science
spelling doaj.art-a32f7bfb901b4810a80ff2fbec415ff52022-12-21T21:27:41ZengSciendoJournal of Apicultural Science2299-48312016-06-0160112113410.1515/jas-2016-0001jas-2016-0001The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis beesWoyke Jerzy0Wilde Jerzy1Wilde Maria2Division of Apiculture, University of Life Sciences (SGGW), 166 Nowoursynowska, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandApiculture Division, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 48 Słoneczna, 10-957 Olsztyn, PolandHoney bee Breeding Centre, Gryzliny, 11-034 Stawiguda, PolandOver a 37-year period, we observed 1011 active bee nests and abandoned combs of Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa in Nepal, India, the Philippines, and Bhutan. This article focuses on the reasons for the different shapes of the nests. We discovered that differing ambient conditions were the reasons for the following three shapes of symmetrical nests: vertical semi-ellipse, semicircle, and the horizontal semi-ellipse. We noted that asymmetrical nests were constructed when there was lack of space to extend the comb equally in both external directions. An asymmetrical nest also appeared when remnants of a previous comb remained on one edge of the nest. Convex nests were constructed to avoid excess sun exposure. Concave nests appeared as a result of low temperatures during the night and part of the day (Nepal). An L-shape nest was constructed when there was lack of space available to extend the nest in a straight direction. The shape of the nests also determines the way the combs fall.https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2016-0001a. dorsataa. laboriosabee nestsnest shapemegapis
spellingShingle Woyke Jerzy
Wilde Jerzy
Wilde Maria
The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
Journal of Apicultural Science
a. dorsata
a. laboriosa
bee nests
nest shape
megapis
title The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
title_full The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
title_fullStr The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
title_full_unstemmed The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
title_short The reasons for the different nest shapes of Megapis bees
title_sort reasons for the different nest shapes of megapis bees
topic a. dorsata
a. laboriosa
bee nests
nest shape
megapis
url https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2016-0001
work_keys_str_mv AT woykejerzy thereasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees
AT wildejerzy thereasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees
AT wildemaria thereasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees
AT woykejerzy reasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees
AT wildejerzy reasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees
AT wildemaria reasonsforthedifferentnestshapesofmegapisbees