Evaluation of the adaptability of native stingless bees in boxes in the village of Tutunendo, Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Abstract

The study was carried out taking into account the current trend of developing environmentally friendly production mechanisms and/or alternatives based on the biotic supply and productive activities developed ancestrally by the communities of the Tutunendo corregimiento, in relation to the management and use of stingless bees in rational boxes. In order to determine the adaptation of the species (Tetragonisca angustula and Melipona eburnea) in prefabricated boxes, the volumes of productivity and yield of honey, traditional methods used by native beekeepers for honey exploitation, such as the exploration and identification of nests, were applied. in the field taking into account the phases of the moon; an analysis of secondary literature was made, the invasive technical method was used (transfer from the wild to the domestic), rational boxes were manufactured with measures of 20 cm long x 25 cm wide and 10 cm of high and weekly monitoring was carried out, based on developed experiences nationally and internationally by beekeepers. All this, allowed the identification of bees, evaluate the adaptability in rational boxes, measurement of by-products, production volumes and management of pests and diseases in rational boxes for 5 months. As a result, it was obtained that M. eburnea produced in the wild and in rational boxes the highest production volumes with 9.051 ml of honey, unlike 15 ml produced by the species T. angustula. It was evidenced that the biggest threat facing the hives are the arriera ants (Atta cephalotes) and the invasion of phorids (flies) in rational boxes.