The Effect of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Biological Activity of the honeybee Apis millefera L. Inside Closed (Air-Conditioned and Non-Air-Conditioned) and Open Apiaries During the Winter in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of the surrounding environmental conditions of temperature and humidity during the winter on a number of beehives inside three types of apiaries (closed air-conditioned, closed non-air-conditioned, and open) designed for beekeeping under cold conditions in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. It was noted that there were significant differences between the three apiaries temperature, as the closed, air-conditioned apiary maintained higher temperatures compared to the closed, non-air-conditioned and open apiary. The average temperature was 18.94°C in the closed, air-conditioned apiary and 13.45 and 11.01°C For the closed, non-air-conditioned and open apiaries, respectively, during the trial period which lasted from November 2022 until the beginning of March 2023. Whereas, the average relative humidity was higher in the closed, non-air-conditioned and open apiaries, reaching 63.48 and 65.785%, respectively, whereas the average relative humidity in the closed, air-conditioned apiary was 45.88% during the experimental period. The results obtained also showed that there were significant differences in the brood area within the hives of the three apiaries, as both the closed air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned apiaries excelled, and the average brood area reached 66.40 and 62.16 inch², respectively, whereas, the brood area was less in the open apiary (42.25 inch²). There were also significant differences in the average area of honey, as the closed, air-conditioned apiary outperformed the rest of the apiaries (251.90 inch²), whereas, the average area of honey in the closed, non-air-conditioned and open apiaries was 201.46 and 211.69 inch², respectively. Even though no significant differences in the average pollen area in the three apiaries (closed air-conditioned, closed non-air-conditioned, open) was noticed, the pollen averages reached 13.48, 13.18 and 11.84 inch² in the three apiaries, respectively, during the winter

Keywords:

Relative humidity, temperature, closed air-conditioned apiary, closed non-air-conditioned apiary, open apiary, brood, Apis millefera L.