70
Bees for Development Journal
in Okuku, Nigeria Beekeeping O
Ichire Ojating and
|
Ojating, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Beekeeping with Langstroth frame hives was undertaken for the first time in Okuku for two years between December 2001 and
June 2003. The work
is
on-going.
Baiting and siting of the hives Six Langstroth frame hives were baited by smearing a mixture of palm wine and honey on the frames as well as on the inside walls and flight entrance of the hives on 3 December 200I. The hives were sited under Gmelina arborea, Delonix regia and Cassia nodosa (Cassia siamea) trees. The baiting of the hives was repeated every two days and was discontinued as soon as a hive was occupied by a colony of bees.
HIVE OCCUPANCY DATES Hive
Date of hive
number
occupancy
Number of weeks before hive occupied
]
3 September 2002
39
2
10 September 2002
40
3
27 February 2003
64
4
28 February 2003
64
Hive occupancy The first hive was occupied by a swarm of bees on 3 September 2002, ie nine months after the baited hives were placed in the apiary (see Table right for the hive occupancy details}. From this record it is evident that the best hive occupancy rate was observed at weeks 65-76, during which four hives were occupied. This means that the rate of hive occupancy was highest at Okuku one year after the hives were baited and sited under the trees. The implication is that a beginner beekeeper using Langstroth frame hives in Okuku has to continue to bait hives for at least a full year before having a reasonable number of bee colonies.
2003
69
May 2003
76
5
3 April
6
21
Bee colony management The bee colonies in the hives were inspected twice each week for pests, diseases and general condition. Such insect pests as black ants, red ants, sugar ants, small and large hive beetles, and wax moths were killed if present. Agama lizards, toads and geckos were driven away from the hives. The bee colonies were never fed with sugar syrup.
a
eek! Dr Ichire Quating with some or ine Langslruin frame hives used in ine study
