Letters to the Editor

Who can read the language of Apis cerana?

Working with Asian honeybees I have found that the language of Apis cerana is different from the language of Apis mellifera. Since I did not find any specific literature on this subject I would like to ask the readers of this Newsletter.

- Who has done any research on the language and communication within an A. cerana colony? reactions of A. cerana such as:

a) the dance communication

b) the reaction to human proximity or smoke

c) the strange “queen” sound

d) the collective vibration when a colony is queenless

e) the signs of preparing for swarming or absconding?

Learning to understand the language of bees is very important for every beekeeper. Please, help us with the interpretation!

B Svensson, Bikonsult HB, Sala, Sweden.

A top-bar hive of sheet plastic

I have never seen a sheet plastic hive in use before, though it seems likely that someone has thought of it already. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has ever seen this idea before.

A simple hive can be made very cheaply and easily using only top-bars and a sheet plastic hive body. Hives of this type have been used successfully to keep bees and produce honey in Papua New Guinea.

Two parallel horizontal bamboo rails support the split bamboo top-bars and the long piece of sheet plastic which surrounds the combs underneath and folds over the top. A sturdy grade of plastic is used, such as that used locally for drying coffee. in Papua New Guinea top-bars of 3.5cm width give the correct bee-space between combs_ when pushed together. Bamboo dowels in the top-bars give the combs structural support. End walls are made of bamboo slats or omitted entirely. Honey is harvested by squeezing combs cut from the top-bars.

Hives of this type have been used for a year and a half with no apparent problems with insulation, overheating or absconding. They are located in a wooded tropical highland valley of 1000 m elevation with moderate average temperatures and a distinct wet/dry season. Perhaps this design could not be used in areas with harsher environmental conditions such as more extreme temperatures, higher humidity, and predatory ants.

However, beekeepers may be interested in trying this type of hive for its low cost and ease of construction.

Robert A Spencer, Peace Corps, Papua New Guinea.