The bee Tetragonula builds its comb like a crystal

Stingless bees of the genus Tetragonula construct a brood comb with a spiral or a target pattern architecture in three dimensions. Crystals possess these same patterns on the molecular scale. Here, we show that the same excitable-medium dynamics governs both crystal nucleation and growth and comb construction in Tetragonula , so that a minimal coupled-map lattice model based on crystal growth explains how these bees produce the structures seen in their bee combs.

Drone Production by the Giant Honey Bee Apis dorsata F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

This study investigates male (drone) production by the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata F.). The entire brood populations from 10 colonies were counted to determine the immature population of drones relative to workers. As the condition of each cell was determined the cell’s position and content were noted using the Microsoft Excel platform. The contents of the brood comb, including eggs, larvae, prepupae, capped worker pupae, capped drone pupae, pollen storage cells and finally empty brood cells were recorded. Results reveal the percent of pupal drones averaged 5.9 ± 6.2% of the total pupal cohort with a range of 0.1 to 17.3%. The size of the drone pupal population relative to the worker pupae was highly variable and displayed no correlation (r2 = 0.076). Pupal drone distribution was scattered throughout the brood comb in a random manner when drone populations were low; in instances of higher drone production, the drones appeared in banded patterns concomitant with the worker pupal distribution.

Drone and Worker Brood Was Unexpectedly Well Heated Both in Standard-Cell and Small-Cell Comb Colonies

Temperatures of worker- and drone-brood rearing in various hive locations were compared in both colonies kept on small-cell combs (4.90 mm) (SMC) and standard-cell combs (5.50 mm) (STC) in two seasons. Temperatures close to the worker-brood comb placed near the rightmost storage-comb were lower than those near the worker brood in the nest centre but equal to those near the outskirt drone-brood comb (34.37-35.24°C) regardless of the month and the comb-cell size. Temperatures of the brood rearing in the SMC did not differ from those in the STC, independently on the location (center-periphery) and the brood type (drone-worker). Occasionally, they were even higher in the STC near the peripheral drone-brood comb and in the nest centre. We concluded that the drones which are involved in colony reproduction could affect its thermoregulation. The peripheral drone brood can be heated just as well as the worker brood, if the colony is strong enough and has the proper drone-worker ratio. Therefore, it is doubtful whether a higher temperature near the worker brood in the SMC limit the development of the V. destructor population. A lower temperature may not be a factor in encouraging V. destructor females to prefer trap-drone-combs for reproduction in the SMC. Strong field colonies may be especially prone to such behaviour. Therefore, temperature cannot be considered a mechanism of effective Varroa control in SMC.

Internal ambience of bee colonies submitted to strengthening management by adding broods

This study aimed to investigate the ideal brood area to be introduced for strengthening Apis mellifera colonies, considering variations in the hive's internal ambience. Therefore, eight colonies were equipped with data loggers for recording variations in temperature and humidity inside the hives. Then, these colonies were split in four treatments involving the swapping of four, three, two and one brood comb between strong and weak colonies. Growth in the amount of brood and food stores to the four colony strengthening treatments was assessed counting the comb cells to record changes in the brood and food area. The colonies tended to restore their normal thermoregulation within four hours after they had been manipulated and the hive cover had been closed, which quickly increased brood area in the receiving colonies. Results showed that adding up to three brood combs constitute an important alternative for strengthening Apis mellifera colonies because it did not interfere with nest thermoregulation, speeded up population growth in weak colonies and did not affect the development of strong colonies.