HIVE TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN COLONIES OF WEST AFRICAN HONEYBEE (APIS MELLIFERA ADANSONII LATREILLE) (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) DURING THE WET AND DRY SEASONS.

Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (Apidae) is the dominant honeybee species found in Nigeria and other West African countries, a warm climate. These honeybees are not known to be confined to their nest for long period despite the warm climate. The bees abscond and swarm regularly unlike the European species of bees. In Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, a town located in 7.55°N and 4.533°E, a study of thermoregulatory capacity of 16 colonies of Apis m. adansonii in 4 apiaries was carried out for 18 months. The results obtained were used to evaluate the differences in the mean colony cluster temperatures, and the fluctuations of the mean colony clusters’ temperatures with ambient. Although the material used in making the hives and the volume has latent effect on the colony cluster temperature. The colony temperatures were significantly different (F3, 48 = 3.81, P = 0.0157). However, there were no significant differences between the mean colony cluster temperatures in Apiaries 1 and 3 and between 2 and 4 (T3, 48 = 2.01063, P = 0.3718 (P greater than 0.05). The colony temperatures were significantly different from the ambient in all the apiaries (F1, 16 = 25.58, P = 0.0001). Temperature generated by the bee colonies and the hives triggers many behavioural and physiological reactions. Hence, this study contributes towards the development of standard hives with adequate ventilation for regulation of colony temperature; understanding of the swarm biology, behaviour and colony organization in Apis mellifera adansonii.