Research ArticleSummary
Important biological parameters of Melipona beecheii little Bennett Have Been Studied in Cuba and even less in relation to health. Its determination favors the promotion of the species on the basis of proper management, especially in Hives rational. The present work was developed in the locality of Horquita Belonging to the municipality of Abreu, Cienfuegos province, in the period from January to May of the year 2019. Its objective was to determine the amount of breeding population, food reserves and health status of Rational Hives of Melipona beecheii Bennett. to 21 hive. Through a completely randomized design, the number of brood combs in rational Hives, the amount of honey and pollen torales, as well as the clinical inspection of the brood chambers Were Counted. The average number of brood combs was 7 and 2808 calls per colony breeding. The average honey perrales by beehive was 93.9, honey by toral 9.45 ml. The average pollen content was 123.29. No clinical manifestations of diseases Were detected. The strength of the colonies and the availability of food Resulted in good health additional evidence of.
Keywords: Melipona’s beecheii; Food reserves; Rational hives
Introduction
The Meliponini or stingless form a group of about 500 species described worldwide number could be increased due to the existence of cryptic species (high morphological similarity) and the absence of detailed analysis in most genera [1]. They play an important role in the pollination of many species of wild and cultivated plants, and it has been estimated that 30 to 50% of the plants in the lowlands of tropical America are pollinated by bees of this group [2]. Cultivation of native stingless is an alternative to the management of AHB in tropical and subtropical areas activity. Although they belong to the same family, they are of a different kind, such that the incorporation of African genes is given within species stingless. Therefore, the exploitation of native bees could take nearbedroom houses places without danger, and with the possibility of obtaining an income [3].
Bees have a great relationship with our daily lives; along with butterflies and bats, they are responsible for pollinating about 35% of crops that provide us with food. They pollinate many plant species from both temperate and tropical forests and our gardens and backyards, and in the case of Apis and stingless bees (Meliponini tribe) took advantage of products such as honey and wax. They are also present in many cultural aspects, for example, have been sacred emblems of ancient civilizations like the Maya and the Egyptians, they are subject of poems and songs, like the popular bachata “Like a bee to honey.” Still, much of its ecology, diversity and importance remain unknown (González-Vanegas, 2018). In Cuba we have worked very little in the domestication of Meliponas rather have largely disappeared from the national territory and abundant only in places with thick vegetation, while they are virtually absent in urban and suburban locations.
The development of Meliponiculture could help maintain the species and increase their populations to provide pollination services and honey production, becoming a healthy and attractive occupation for many people regardless of age or gender, however, now prime weakness; know how to handle these insects as beneficial [4]. melipona beecheiiIt is one of two species of eusocial bees in Cuba and is of interest for its honey and pollen, as well as the pollination of wild and cultivated plants. Biometric parameters have been studied in detail in countries like Costa Rica and Mexico [5,6]; but in Cuba are insufficient references of previous studies providing elements on the size of the population of the colonies and their food stocks. The aim of this study is to determine the oblation of baby food stocks and rational hives Melipona beecheii Bennett as basic factors for their health.
Materials and Methods
The study was conducted from January to May 2019, three meliponaries (Center Bees; Racking and Development Center and Meliponary Base), belonging to the Company Crops Several Horquita, the municipality of Abreus. A descriptive study for a completely randomized design for each meliponary. We worked with 21 housed in beehives rational type (PNN 1975) colonies, seven in each group. Each colony was determined the number and diameter of honeycombs offspring, the amount of food stocks torales (honey and pollen); as well as the health of rational hives. Honey samples were extracted with a 50 ml syringe using a plastic catheter and placed in a 100 ml graduated cylinder. For processing test data Kolmorov and a descriptive statistical analysis with Stat graphics Plus version 5.1 package was performed.
Results and Discussion
Analysis of Reproductive Parameters of the Species Melipona Beecheii
The range broodcombs by hives (Table 1) was greater for average Meliponary 1, while the lowest was for Meliponary 2. The average number of colony honeycombs was 7.29 ± 6.43 with ranges between 5 and 9, while a study by Fernandez and Navarro (2015), in 15 colonies of the People’s Council Horquita, municipality Abreus, Cienfuegos province, showed that the number of these combs found in all hives coincided with those reported by Boggino [7] for Stingless bees (6-8 honeycombs hive); on the other hand they are different from the data found in the species Melipona beecheii Bennett (1831) in Yucatan, Mexico (8-12 honeycombs per hive) (Gonzalez, 2008). According total broodcombs found in hives 21 (Figure 1), 40.23% were new (a), 52.18% old or peduncles (b), and mixed 10.41% (c); Similar results are reported in the municipality of San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque province by Loriga (2015) who of all brood combs found in 12 beehives reported 34.43% were new, old or 49.18% cocoon, and 16.39% mixed; but does not coincide with the next results in Mexico with 40% of new cells and 60% of cells cocoon.
Figure 1: Representation of honeycombs offspring. a) new honeycombs. b) old honeycombs. c) mixed honeycombs.
Table 1: Reproductive parameters of the species Melipona beecheii.
Immature population (from egg to imago emergency) averaged 2793/ Hive, ranging between 1830 and 3812 cells. Similar results (2135 offspring per colony) were reported by studying 19 colonies of M. beecheii in Costa Rica (Loriga, 2015), while in Yucatan, averages 40% and 60% were found and others [8] reported values of 30% and 70%, but the species Nannotrigona perilampoides Cockerell. According Hliario et al. [9], the diameter of the brood combs provides a good idea of the overall condition of the colonies. Figure 2 shows that the hives meliponary 1 as trend had breeding areas with larger diameters. Roubik [10] states that the reproduction of the colonies is strongly determined by the availability of flowers, abundant pollen and building materials in the environment. This approach justifies the fact that the beehives busiest flight for collecting resources, in this case pollen, honeycombs present in greater numbers and with greater diameters.
Figure 2: Diameter breeding area.
Alvarez (2013) characterizing hives potentiated two queens (strong) and comparing this with a single queen hives (less strong) found that the first built honeycombs as many second and similar diameters. It should be considered, in the brood chamber, cloistered in a limited and bordered space primarily by torales pollen, once the brood combs occupy all available space, building cells slows down and the growth rate new combs decreases to be limited by the space at a lower rate is being created at the bottom, which shifts the proportion of types of breeding for bud cells. Clearly this area on the development and composition of the colony remains almost virgin and will require more than others, future studies (Loriga 2015). Figure 3 shows that the strongest hives, as a trend, had higher number of offspring per hive.
Figure 3: Number of young per hive.
Analysis of the Amount of Food Reserves
In Table 2 the results are reported in terms of food stocks, in this aspect it showed large variability in the amount of torales between meliponaries studied with an average of 657.33 torales honey and 205.67 torales pollen and a total of 2589 torales. In meliponary 1 Most torales of honey and pollen was observed because its surroundings there is a greater amount of bloom for the collection of food stocks and structure meliponary 1 is better able than the 2 and 3 . Productions of honey per hive are highly variable and influenced by numerous factors such as the amount of floral resource, the size of the accommodations, the strength of the colony (Carrillo 1998) and health status Green et al. (2013). The average amount of pollen torales was variable (Table 3), lower than those obtained by another author in Costa Rica (Van Veen 1999). This reflects the floristic little resort in the middle and low capacity for collecting colonies studied.
Table 2: Amount of food reserves by meliponary.
Table 3: Performance hives honey and pollen.
The amount of reserves of food (honey and pollen) is associated with the strength of the colony, species, foraging activity, weather factors, flight activity and potential competitors, and health status (Green, 2013). Moreover, the relationship between food reserves and production of sexed individuals has already been reported in the species [11], And to decrease the amount of food, especially pollen, it decreases the production of individuals, particularly drones, which also occurs in a reduction in body sizeand sperm production (Pech-May, 2012). Something similar was observed in Melipona flavolineata Friese, regarding the size of the workers (Veiga, 2013). Data on the breeding population and food stocks shown in this work are the first references to these parameters where an average of 93.90 ± 29.33 torales of honey per hive (Table 3), ranging between 40 and 157 torales reached that containing this food. an average yield of honey was obtained by colony 123.29 ml with ranges 45 and 210 ml. The average amount of honey per toral was 7 ml with ranges between (7 and 11 mL).
In Mexico yields 600 ml of honey per hive (Carrillo, 1998) was reached, while in Costa Rica the average was 151 ml studying 19 colonies before the nectar flow and to quantify the biological reserves of the species Melipona beecheii Bennett (Apidae: Meliponini) in Cuba, and play an important role in the development and functionality of the colony, as well as lay a foundation for further studies in this field. As for the performance of honey and pollen from beehives was matched samples reported by Fernandez and Navarro (2015), where there were no statistically significant differences in classifying the hives as strong, which according to flight activity tended to store more honey, pollen and propolis than average and weak. These reserves are vital for the reproduction of the colony. Pollen is important for the full development of larvae main source of protein and vitamins, newly emerged bees and queen. Honey is produced by bees from the nectar collected in flowers and processed by digestive enzymes such insects, being stored in drums to serve food [12]. Apartir these elements bees produce liquid larval food, pollen mixture and glandular secretion brown-dark and strong sour taste coloration [10] that is placed in the brood cells for the development of the larvae after the egg deposited by the queen, eclosiona.
Analysis of the Health of Hives
The health of hives is in good condition because in terms of the number of honeycombs have an average number of 7 per hive in the three meliponaries, allowing us to propose that the colonies are in phase # 2 [4]. There is a satisfactory amount of food reserves by meliponaries. During the study it found that most of hives occupied all internal living space, causing limitations in the construction of honeycombs pups (Figure 4). In all colonies constant internal activity (Figure 5) which caused satisfactory data were obtained both in the number of honeycombs offspring and food reserves evidenced. good structuring of the colonies was also observed, thanks to good care and maintenance worker who studied hives. Inspection of the brood chamber and food torales to evidence the absence of clinical manifestations of disease. Either larvae or adults arthropod parasites were found, all of which, combined with the large population, good strength and existing food stocks, express the good health of the colonies studied.
Figure 4: Internal living space of the hive.
Figure 5: Bee activity and structure of the hive.
Conclusion
1. No differences between meliponaries in the number
of broodcombs by rational hives Meliponas beecheii, total
honeycombs offspring was 141 with an average of 6.43±7.29
with ranges between 5 and 9.
2. The living space per hive reached maximum capacity for
meliponaries study, the number of reserve food torales was
2589 (honey and pollen), a yield of honey was obtained by
colony 123.29 ml ranges between 45 and 210 ml.
3. The availability of brood combs and food reserves
significantly influence health status colony Meliponas beecheii
Bennett.
Recommendations
a. Continue the study of biology and architecture bee nests land (Melipona beecheii Bennett.) And pollinating activity.
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