Effect of Weather Factors on Honeybee Flight Activity and Colony Weight Gain

Abstract

SummaryFor three consecutive years, the flight activity from 10 honeybee colonies was recorded for a whole day at the beginning, middle and end of the flow. The outgoing flights started at about 9.00 h reach a maximum between 14.00 and 16.00 h and ceased at about 21.00 h. Multiple correlation coefficients of humidity, temperature, wind speed and light intensity with flight activity ranged from + 0·701 to + 0·978, all highly significant. Correlation coefficients of temperature with flight activity ranged from + 0·532 to + 0.947, also highly significant. There was a significant direct relationship between flight activity and colony weight gain 30 min later. This weight gain was correlated with honeybee activity and the above four weather factors (+ 0·490 to + 0.837, all highly significant). The mean daily flight activity of a colony was highly significantly correlated with the total weight gain of the colony at the end of the season (+ 0.766 to + 0.879). This relationship was not significant on a day with no weight gain. Mean flight activity significantly differed between years. Overwintered colonies flew more than package colonies. A single day's activity was related to the total seasonal weight gain of the same colonies. The results suggested that a single day's gain is also related to the total seasonal gain, and that by weighing colonies on two consecutive mornings the highest-gaining colonies could be selected for breeding.