Foraging Activities, Environmental Factors, and Increment Weight of Tetragonula biroi Colonies in Beekeeping with Different Hive Materials

Abstract

Abstract Tetragonula biroi is one of the stingless bee species that has many benefits for human life besides producing honey, propolis, and 13 derivative products. Another important service provided by this bee is as a plant pollinator. This research aims to determine the relationship between the foraging activity of T. biroi bees, environmental factors, and colony development in hives made of different materials. The study was conducted in Rompegading Village, Maros Regency. This research method used a completely randomized design consisting of four different hive materials, namely glass, triplex, cement, and tree hollows, and each treatment was repeated three times. Parameters observed were the number of worker bees leaving and entering the hive throughout the day, colony weight gain, and environmental factors (temperature, humidity, and light intensity). The results showed that the highest foraging activity of worker bees and colony weight gain occurred in natural hives (tree hollows) in the fourth week of observation and in artificial hives made from cement materials. The peak of bee activity entering and leaving the hive occurred in the morning from 07:00–10:00 and in the late afternoon from 13:00–16:00. In the morning, more bees leave the hive, while more enter in the afternoon. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and light affect the foraging activity of worker bees.