Efeito da alimentação artificial em colônias de abelhas Melipona interrupta Latrielle, 1811 (Apidae, Meliponinae), no município de Juruti-PA

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of artificial feeding on the development of Melipona Interrupta L. (Jupará) bee hives in the municipality of Juruti-PA. 20 beehives populated in a wooden box, INPA model, with an internal dimension of 15 x 15 cm were used. A completely randomized design was used, with 04 treatments and 05 repetitions each. The treatments being: T1- Syrup; T2 – Syrup plus pollen, T3 – Syrup plus vitamin complex and T4 – Control treatment (without artificial feeding). Food was provided once a week in a dosage of 40 ml each in each treatment for 3 months. The following variables were analyzed: hive weight (PC), number of brood discs (NDC) and number of honey pots (NPM). The data measured at the beginning of the experiment, on the 45th day and on the 90th day, were tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet, where the averages of the raw data and the standard deviation of PC, NDC and NPM were calculated. The five replicates of T4 (control) withered to death after 45 days of experiment. It is concluded that artificial feeding can influence the better development of hives after multiplication, ensuring their survival as observed in this study. Under the conditions in which this experiment was carried out, it is recommended to use artificial feeding after swarm multiplication in off-season periods to ensure better development of the colony.