Produção de própolis em colméias de Apis mellifera africanizadas submetidas a diferentes condições de sombreamento

Several factors were involved in propolis production, as the luminosity. The goal of this research was investigate the propolis production in the africanizated honeybees (Apis mellifera) maintained under controlled conditions of shading. The colonies were individually and artificially shaded with PVC screens, as: 5 colonies without shading, 5 colonies with 50% at shade, 5 colonies with 75% at shade and 5 colonies with 90% of shade. Hives exposed at 90% of shading showed an increased in propolis produtction (79.7± 9.5 g), in comparison with 0% (49.3± 9.8 g), 50% (62.3±17.7 g) and 75% (70.0±13.9 g). Its may conclude that the shading of hives increase the propolis production.