Effect of seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature on behavior of hived Apis cerana honey bee colony

Abstract

Apis cerana species occurs all over India, as A. cerana cerana in northern  and A. cerana indica in southern part of India except desert region. The honey bees make flight for their food as pollen or nectar or both. The foraging depends upon availability of food, water and climatic conditions like ambient temperature, humidity, light levels, and visibility. The foraging range of A. cerana is about 1-1.5 km. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature affect normal working of bees. This attempt was made to study effect of ambient temperature on behavior of hived A. cerana bee colony at Chikhaldara. It was found that bees become most active from 8.00 am to 11.00 am and 4.00 to 6.30 pm in summer whereas 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm in cold season. The optimum temperature of brood was 34 to 34.5 ⁰C, and varies by 1 ⁰C. Seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature affect working efficiency of the workers. During summer, temperature rises above 34 ⁰C, worker bees performs some extra compensatory action like fanning, foragers bring the water, avoid clustering to minimize the internal brood temperature. While in cold conditions, the brood temperature stabilize by clustering, consumes huge honey to generate heat and worker bees start to minimize space between combs, so as to reduce heat loss.