Periodic mass flights of Apis laboriosa in Nepal

Abstract

The investigations were conducted in the Himalayas in Nepal. Two cliff sites, one with 16 A. laboriosa nests and the other with 53 nests were observed. Together 120 periodic mass flights (PMF) performed by A. laboriosa worker bees during 8 days were recorded. Workers from 50-81% of colonies performed PMF, during days of adequate weather conditions. The flights were not performed during overcast days. Worker bees from different colonies perform PMF at different times of the day. Workers from the same colonies perform PMF at different times in subsequent days. While workers from some colonies did not perform any PMF during several days, others perform 2 or 3 PMF per day.