Even when both species are kept in the same apiary, Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) start foraging really early in the morning in compare to European honey bees. I am wondering what factors such as temperature, sunlight, or foraging resources have been playing role in that kind of foraging behavior? Any suggestions or resources on this is highly appreciated.
Dear Chet,
the answer on your question lies in mutualistic relations with flowers. In tropical areas you have a lot of blooming trees that open flowers much earlier than herb and brush flowers! (But this I suppose so can be an important reason - I can compare living partially in Thailand and partially in Ukraine). As well you should know that different social groups of bees have different sleeping time - longer or shorter - or even different daily period. See, please, the book attached (pp. 63-66)!
Andrey
Dear Chet,
the answer on your question lies in mutualistic relations with flowers. In tropical areas you have a lot of blooming trees that open flowers much earlier than herb and brush flowers! (But this I suppose so can be an important reason - I can compare living partially in Thailand and partially in Ukraine). As well you should know that different social groups of bees have different sleeping time - longer or shorter - or even different daily period. See, please, the book attached (pp. 63-66)!
Andrey
Dear Chet, I agree with what Andrey says. You may also check: http://barnsleybeekeepers.org.uk/species.html
Bee behavior is affected by temperature. They rarely work when the temperature is below 57oF or above 100oF. They cannot fly when the temperature is below 55oF. On very hot days, bees cluster outside unshaded hives and do not work. However, too much shade in the summer makes bees irritable
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/beekeep/basbeop.htm
Any relation with asian hornets predation ? We have the feeling in France that since the asian hornet's Vespa velutina invasion Apis mellifera shifts its foraging activities earlier in the morning.
I also have feeling of effects of temperature@Hareschandra but I wonder why that didn't apply for cerana as they start foraging really early in the morning, may be that can be there are flowers secreting nectar early in the morning in which cerana were adopted for.
Dear Dennis, Yes there are lots of Vespa velutina, V. mandarina, and V. tropica in the apiary sites (Nepal) killing bees more severely on mellifera than cerana. Cerana has very good defense on velutina as they clumped together and vibrate to chase wasps but not so effective in case of mellifera. But, on contrary, cerana started foraging really early like at 5 am but mellifera waited for full sunlight until 6:30 or later.
Hello Dear
They do not hoard excess honey and therefore constantly require resources for the colony to
survive. This may force the bees to forage in unfavourable conditions.best regards
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