Effect of harvesting method and model of hive on the amount of honey produced by bee colonies in Algeria

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to show the effect of the harvest method on the honey yield and the effect of the hive type on the evolution of the brood and the honey production. The comparative study was done in the Mitidja (North of Algeria) where Apis mellifera intermissa colonies of bees were placed inside 2 types of hives: Langstroth and Dadant. In addition, the single harvest method of honey was compared to the partial method. Partial harvest method permitted a higher production of honey (P≤0.05) than the single method. This result was observed for the 2 types of hives and seems related to the increase of space in the hives when the partial harvest method was used. This factor should stimulate the queen bee to intensify its laying activity and the worker bees to gather more nectar. Results revealed that the evolution of the brood and the honey production were better (P≤0.05) for the Langstroth hive. Inside the Dadant hive, which is more voluminous, bees colonies are stressed by the climate conditions, they have a late development and become less productive during the honeydew.