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THE NATURAL NEST AND NEST DENSITY OF THE AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE) NEAR TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Francis L.W. Ratnieks ,
Miguel A. Piery  and
Ignacio Cuadriello
Francis L.W. Ratnieks
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA 14850
Miguel A. Piery
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA 14850
Ignacio Cuadriello
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Ecologicas del Sureste (CIES), Tapachula, 30700 Chiapas, Mexico
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Abstract

Natural nests of the Africanized honey bee near Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, were examined during March and April 1988, approximately 18 months after initial colonization. Most were in hollow trees, but open nests and nests in arboreal termite nests occurred. All nests were less than 6 months old and most less than 2 months. The modal cavity volume was 10–20 L. No brood diseases were seen. Colony density was estimated to be about six per square kilometre, higher than the density of man-kept hives.

Résumé

Les nids naturels des abeilles africanisées près de Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexique, ont été étudiés pendant les mois de mars et d’avril, 1988, approximativement 18 mois à partir de la colonisation initiale. La plupart se trouvaient dans les arbres creux, mais des nids ouverts et aussi dans des nids de termites aux arbres ont été constatés. Tous les nids ont été âgés de moins de 6 mois, mais la majeure partie a été âgée de moins de 2 mois. La valeur de la modalité d’une cavité a été entre 10 à 20 L. Aucune maladie de couvée n’a été en évidence. La densité des colonies a été évaluée à six par kilometre carré, ou plus élevée que celle des ruches exploitées par les apiculteurs.

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Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 123 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 353 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1991

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