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<p>Honeybee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) productivity and colony growth are significantly influenced by hive material and environmental conditions. This research aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of <i>A. mellifera</i> colony growth in wooden and insulated Langstroth hives under varying environmental conditions. We evaluated six hive types: kikar (<i>Vachellia nilotica</i>), eucalyptus (<i>Eucalyptus spp.</i>), sheesham (<i>Dalbergia sissoo</i>), mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i>), Java plum (<i>Syzygium cumini</i>), and insulated Langstroth hives, with six replicates of each under the climatic conditions of Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Colony growth was assessed using five main variables: population size, brood area, honey yield, pollen stores, and pest infestation levels. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test, revealed significant differences among hive types (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The results demonstrated that insulated hives exhibited superior colony growth across all assessed variables, with a significantly greater population size (58,667 ± 1,080 bees), brood area (68.7 ± 1.1%), honey yield (24.7 ± 0.3&#xa0;kg), pollen stores (9.9 ± 0.1&#xa0;kg), and significantly reduced pest infestation compared to wooden hives. Among the wooden hives, kikar hives performed optimally, followed by eucalyptus, sheesham, mango, and Java plum, in decreasing order: 1) Kikar, with a population size of 45,200 ± 756 bees, brood area of 55.7 ± 1.1%, honey yield of 18.6 ± 0.4&#xa0;kg, pollen stores of 7.6 ± 0.1&#xa0;kg, and very low pest infestation; 2) Eucalyptus, with a population size of 38,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 47.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 15.6 ± 0.4&#xa0;kg, pollen stores of 6.6 ± 0.2&#xa0;kg, and low pest infestation; 3) Sheesham, with a population size of 29,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 35.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 11.6 ± 0.4&#xa0;kg, pollen stores of 5.1 ± 0.2&#xa0;kg, and moderate pest infestation; 4) Mango, with a population size of 18,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 22.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 7.6 ± 0.4&#xa0;kg, pollen stores of 3.6 ± 0.2&#xa0;kg, and high pest infestation; and 5) Java plum, with a population size of 9,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 10.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 3.6 ± 0.4&#xa0;kg, pollen stores of 2.1 ± 0.2&#xa0;kg, and higher pest infestation. Other abiotic factors, such as high summer temperatures and low humidity characteristic of this area, impacted colony formation. Insulated hives provided effective insulation and maintained an optimal interior climate against extreme heat or cold. These findings indicate that hive materials play a critical role in colony development, with insulated hives creating the most conducive conditions for efficient productivity. These results have significant implications for beekeeping, suggesting that the use of thermally optimized hive materials can enhance colony growth and overall hive performance.</p>

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Comparative analysis of colony growth in honeybees (Apis mellifera) in wooden and insulated Langstroth hives under varied environmental conditions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月26日

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  • Faisal Iqbal,
  • Salma Ameer,
  • Habib Ali,
  • Saman Iqbal,
  • Maliha Ghaffar,
  • Suliman Alomar,
  • Konul Ahmadova,
  • Zhihang Zhuo

摘要

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) productivity and colony growth are significantly influenced by hive material and environmental conditions. This research aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of A. mellifera colony growth in wooden and insulated Langstroth hives under varying environmental conditions. We evaluated six hive types: kikar (Vachellia nilotica), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), mango (Mangifera indica), Java plum (Syzygium cumini), and insulated Langstroth hives, with six replicates of each under the climatic conditions of Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Colony growth was assessed using five main variables: population size, brood area, honey yield, pollen stores, and pest infestation levels. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test, revealed significant differences among hive types (p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that insulated hives exhibited superior colony growth across all assessed variables, with a significantly greater population size (58,667 ± 1,080 bees), brood area (68.7 ± 1.1%), honey yield (24.7 ± 0.3 kg), pollen stores (9.9 ± 0.1 kg), and significantly reduced pest infestation compared to wooden hives. Among the wooden hives, kikar hives performed optimally, followed by eucalyptus, sheesham, mango, and Java plum, in decreasing order: 1) Kikar, with a population size of 45,200 ± 756 bees, brood area of 55.7 ± 1.1%, honey yield of 18.6 ± 0.4 kg, pollen stores of 7.6 ± 0.1 kg, and very low pest infestation; 2) Eucalyptus, with a population size of 38,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 47.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 15.6 ± 0.4 kg, pollen stores of 6.6 ± 0.2 kg, and low pest infestation; 3) Sheesham, with a population size of 29,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 35.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 11.6 ± 0.4 kg, pollen stores of 5.1 ± 0.2 kg, and moderate pest infestation; 4) Mango, with a population size of 18,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 22.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 7.6 ± 0.4 kg, pollen stores of 3.6 ± 0.2 kg, and high pest infestation; and 5) Java plum, with a population size of 9,133 ± 779 bees, brood area of 10.1 ± 0.8%, honey yield of 3.6 ± 0.4 kg, pollen stores of 2.1 ± 0.2 kg, and higher pest infestation. Other abiotic factors, such as high summer temperatures and low humidity characteristic of this area, impacted colony formation. Insulated hives provided effective insulation and maintained an optimal interior climate against extreme heat or cold. These findings indicate that hive materials play a critical role in colony development, with insulated hives creating the most conducive conditions for efficient productivity. These results have significant implications for beekeeping, suggesting that the use of thermally optimized hive materials can enhance colony growth and overall hive performance.