Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Pradeep S, Srinivasan MR, Saravanan PA, Balasubramani V and Harish S

Abstract:
Multiplication of stingless bees, Tetragonula spp has been a challenging task for beekeepers and scientists in India. Even though a few methods are available for increasing the colony numbers, refinement is essential to reduce the time taken and increase the success rate. Hence attempts were made in this study, to divide the stingless bee colonies using two different methods namely colony division using natural or existing queen cells and colony division by induction of emergency queen cells and compared with control colonies (colony formation through swarming) with an objective of finding out if stingless bee colonies can be produced by induction of emergency queen cells. Another experiment was conducted to find out the effective distance of placing the divided bee colonies from drone congregation site for successful mating of the newly emerged gynes. Three different distances namely placing of divided colony at 2m, 10m and 100m from the drone congregation site were studied. Based on the research, we could find that upon dividing any given colony, it is possible to get emergency queen cells from which new queens emerge, mate with drones, and start laying eggs within 70 days period. After division of a colony, initially provision of sugar solution feed is essential to maintain the growth and colony population. It was found that, the divided colonies which were placed at a distance of either 2m or 10 m from the drone congregation site, mated and started laying eggs early (at 10.88 days) and the colonies placed at 100m distance started laying eggs after 23.11 days (a delay of 12.23 days). Hence it could be concluded that the divided colonies placed within a distance of 10 m from drone congregation site ensures quick mating of the gynes.