BEESWARM · Honeybee swarming
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-05-01 → 2006-04-30
- EU contribution
- €40,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- ERG
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - BEESWARM (Honeybee swarming)
In order to obtaining precise data about honeybee swarming, four colonies were recorded continuously during the whole process of swarming using 16 cameras and 8 microphones. The collected data made it possible to determine the timing of egg laying, queen cell sealing and queen emergence. Sounds produced by queens and their behaviour after emergence was determined as well. The queen cells precapping period was shorter during swarming than during emergency queen rearing. On the other hand, the postcapping period was longer during swarming in comparison with emergency queen rearing. The optimal strategy of honeybees during swarming was determined using a game theory model combined with dynamic programming. Results of the models suggest that the number of fights should increase as the swarming approaches its end. This was confirmed by the empirical data. It can be also predicted that during swarming there is a conflict between the queen and workers. The optimal time of swarming is later for queen than for workers. These predictions were confirmed by observations of aggressive interaction between queen and workers at the time of egg laying in the queen cells. This suggests that the queen is forced to initiate swarming. An electronic device for automatic detection of swarming was built, designed to detect queen cell visitation. The device consisted of artificial queen cells equipped with infrared diode and phototransistor. The device was installed in five honeybee colonies and the visitation rate of the queen cell was recorded before and during the swarming. The visitation rate of queen cells increased before initiation of swarming. The device can be used for detection of swarming at its early stage.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Honeybee swarming is a very important problem for scientific study and for the economics and practice of apiculture. One interesting aspect of swarming is the exchange of tooting and quacking sounds by queens competing for inheritance of a swarm.Theoretic al models of aggressive interactions between animals predict that competing individuals should assess:(1) the value of the resources for which they compete,(2) the fighting abilities of the opponent and(3) the costs of the aggressive interaction to their future fitness.Competition between honeybee queens for inheritance of a swarm provides an excellent opportunity to test these predictions. The aims of this project are to analyse honeybee queen fighting in terms of evolutionary biology, to obtain high-quality empirical data about swarming, and to discover better beekeeping methods to prevent swarming. Theoretical models will be used to predict the behaviour of queens during swarming. The predictions will be verified by observations and experiments, and an electronic device will be built for automatic detection of swarming. The device should improve methods of swarming prevention. The project will allow the researcher to reintegrate with the host institution in Poland.This will bring long-term job stability and increase the applicant's chance of obtaining a permanent position there. Knowledge the researcher has obtained during training in Western Europe will be transferred to Poland, which has recently joined the European Union. His re integration will expand cooperation between the host institution and social insect laboratories in Europe. Beyond its contribution to scientific understanding of bee behaviour, the project promises to bring economic benefits. Swarming is an important problem of beekeeping, an enterprise, which provides many jobs, supports employment in related sectors, and also plays an essential role in crop pollination.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF KRAKOW · KRAKOWCoordinatorCity levelPoland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union