Effect of Improved Hive Cover Designs on Internal Microclimate and Colony Establishment of West African Honeybees (Apis mellifera adansonii L.) in Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

Hive cover designs majorly affects the microclimate and colony establishment of African honeybee colonies in Nigeria. It became pertinent therefore to assess the effect of modified hive cover designs on the internal microclimate and colony establishment of West African honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii L.) Colonies in Awka, Nigeria. Four insulating materials were used to construct the covers of twelve modified frame bar hives and designated: Control (plywood); T1 (warped boards); T2 (PVC) and T3 (foam). Each hive treatment was replicated three times. Data on ambient and hive microclimate as well as the colonization of honeybees’ colonies were observed and reported. The results indicated that the control had the highest temperature (31.86 ºC) while T1 (30.40ºC) had the least. The hive temperature was higher in March, 2023 (32.72°C) while August (29.87°C) had the least. The highest relative humidity (73.18%) was recorded in T1 while the control had the least (64.38%). The hive temperature and relative humidity was significantly affected by hive cover designs and different months of the study period (P<0.05). The highest colonization by African honeybees was observed in the control (100%) but none occurred in T2 (0.00%). Colonization of the Control hives occurred in July, October, and November, 2022 while that of T1 and T3 occurred in December, 2022. Colony establishment of African honeybees was not significantly affected by hive cover designs (p=0.26) and different months of the study period (p=0.24). It was concluded that beekeepers should adopt the insulation of hiver covers with plywood wood since it had 100% colonization of West African honeybees’.