The Stimulating Effect of Modified Hives (Langstroth) on Honey Bees (Apis mellifera jemenitica Hymenoptera, Apidae) to Propolis Production and its Relationship to Population Dynamics of Colonies and some Environmental Factors in Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia

الملخص

To evaluate the productivity of the bee hive from propolis and determine the plant species that visit it to produce propolis. The study was conducted in Al-Baha province in Saudi Arabia by using four modified hives. Hives with wall roughness modification were the best to stimulate honeybees to collect more resins and lipophilic materials (P< 0.05), while the best production was observed in July and August (P< 0.05), with temperatures ranging from 36.47±2.66 - 37.21±2.99 ˚C. Three plant species were visited by the honeybee A. m. jemenitica to collect resins and lipophilic materials. These plant species included J. procera, A. tortilis, and F. palmata. The propolis products had different colors according to the plant source. The results showed a significant correlation between the propolis yields and the strength of colonies. The correlation between propolis yield and temperature in 2014 was negative (r = -0.19557).