Abstract
We studied an aggregation of Apis laboriosa colonies in northern Vietnam where the species is sympatric with Apis dorsata. We video-recorded four colonies on 2 days to quantify drone flights and other colony behaviors. We observed > 90% of drones between 16:10 and 18:10 h ICT, with the maximum numbers between ~ 17:10 and 18:00 h. Drone flight timing did not differ between days or between colonies. Aggressive worker behavior toward some arriving drones suggests considerable drifting of drones between nests. Massed flight activity, a colony behavior in which a high proportion of bees temporarily leaves the comb, occurred in several colonies between 14:00 and 16:40 h. We also documented absconding by one colony. A. laboriosa drones ended their mating flights before the typical mating flight time of Apis dorsata at evening twilight. We conclude that allochrony of mating is a likely reproductive isolating mechanism between these two species of giant honey bees.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Chan Q. Hoang, chairman of the Quang Thanh commune, and Kiem K. Chu, head of Hoai Khao village for permission to conduct our research at the cliff sites, and Phu C. Ban for assisting with logistics over the course of the study. Zachary Huang and Rob Currie provided unpublished observations related to timing of mating flights and drifting. This study was funded by the project entitled “Conserve gene pool of husbandry” implemented by the National Institute of Animal Sciences of Vietnam. Dr. Karen J Hand of Precision Strategic Solutions, Puslinch, Ontario, conducted the data analyses. Will Robinson kindly commented on a draft of the manuscript. It was also greatly improved by the suggestions of two anonymous reviewers.
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Funding was provided by the Ministry of Agriculture for Rural Development of Vietnam, implemented by the National Institute of Animal Sciences, and by G.W. Otis (personal funds).
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Hanh D. Pham and Gard W. Otis conceived this project and designed the methodology, with input from Chinh H. Phung. Hanh D. Pham, Dien T. Bui, and Thanh T. Nguyen conducted the field work. Dien T. Bui, Lam D. Nguyen, Chinh H. Phung, and Thanh T. Nguyen extracted data from videos. Karen J. Hand of Precision Strategic Solutions, Puslinch, Ontario, conducted the data analyses. Gard W. Otis and Hanh D. Pham wrote the manuscript that all authors reviewed and approved prior to it being submitted for publication.
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Pham, H.D., Phung, C.H., Bui, D.T. et al. Timing of drone flights and observations of other colony behaviors of Apis laboriosa in northern Vietnam. Apidologie 54, 35 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-023-01014-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-023-01014-y