Termorregulação e produção da Melipona scutellaris em colmeias construídas com diferentes tipos de madeira.

Abstract

Melipona scutellaris is a species of stingless bee that has its distribution restricted to the coastal strip of the Northeast region, preferring to inhabit humid places, nesting naturally in hollows of trees, present great bearing and meekness, becoming attractive for rational creation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the temperature control of honey bees Melipona scutellaris in the interior of the rational hives, north-eastern model, constructed with two types of wood, correlating to the influence of the climatic variations of Areia / PB on the productive performance and reproductive. A completely randomized design (DIC) and factorial scheme of 4x2x2, comprising 4 wood types (pinus, macaúba, trunk of macaúba and usual), were distributed on the two sides of the shed (right and left), and at 2 heights on the shelves (0.80 and 1.23 cm), with 8 replicates each. The temperature in the brood area was maintained in the range of 26 ° to 34 ° C, varying over the months in relation to the left and right side of the Meliponary and the material used in the hives. The insulating effect of wood reduces temperature variations in the nest compared to ambient temperatures. Although the evaluated facility has constructive features within appropriate dimensions, there were differences in temperature between the sides of the Meliponary and the external sur-faces of the hive. The type of wood used in the construction of the beehive, the location and height at which it will be installed and the period of the year, form a set of deter-mining factors for the development of the Melipona scutellaris colony in a rational breeding system.