Evaluation of different hive designs for domestication and conservation of native stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponula beccarii) in Ethiopia

Abstract

There has been a long standing tradition of stingless bee, Meliponula beccarii (M. beccarii), honey hunting in Ethiopian farming communities. However, attempt has not been made to domesticate and manage stingless bees for sustainable harvest of the products. Domestication trial of M. beccarii in different hives types were conducted for colony adaptation. For this purpose, a total of 33 stingless bee colonies excavated from wild nests were transferred into five UTOB, 10 rectangular box and 18 pot hives. All of the colonies transferred to UTOB and rectangular box hives were absconded within six months of their establishment, indicating a 100% failure of M. beccarii domestication in wooden box hives set above the ground. However, among 18 stingless bee colonies transferred into pot hives and placed under the ground, 16 (88.9%) were adapted and successfully domesticated. Two season honey yield was harvested from pot hived colonies using disposable syringe and the average honey yield/colony/year was 1.10 ± 0.20 L that ranges from 90 ml – 3 L/colony. Moreover, the average volume of honey/honey pot was estimated to be 6.26 ± 1.08 ml. Furthermore, the nests of M. beccarii were protected with an average of 6.87 ± 0.65 guard bees/nest. Therefore, this study demonstrated for the first time that the possibility of M. beccarii domestication using pot hives for the sustainable honey production and conservation of this native bee species in Ethiopia. Although the current results highlighted the possibility of M. beccarii domestication for sustainable honey production, more research is needed on how to manage, multiply them, on the best way of honey harvesting technique and use of these bees for pollination services.