Captura de Enjambres de Abejas en la Zona de Santo Domingo y su Efecto Durante la Adaptación y Manejo en la Producción de Miel

Abstract

In the Province of Pichincha, I monitored the capture of bee swarms in the area of Santo Domingo and the impact during the period of honey production. Monitoring was conducted for 150 days using 12 standard hives and the testing was performed with native colonies with six repetitions each, giving a total of 12 experimental units. I took measurements of the weights of the hives, number of chambers with eggs and larvae, number of chambers with young drones, number of chambers with honey and the cost-benefit relationship. The best results were obtained with wild colonies which generated heavier weights of 7,47kg within 50 days compared to the swarm which reached 5,67kg alter 125 days. The number of chambers with larvae and eggs ranged from 3.67kg after 75 days, and the swarm 2.83kg. As for the chambers with young drones, the best results were from the wild colonies which reached 3.50kg alter 75 days compared to 2.83kg with the swarm. The number of chambers with honey ranged from 4,67kg alter 25 days to 1.17kg. Finally the highest cost-benefit was from the native swarm which reached 90 cents for each dollar invested. Based on this, it is recommended that we capture wild swarms to control individual populations and influence crosspollination, whilst we also seek to avoid attack on farmers and livestock.