Spatial distribution of the dwarf honey bees in an agroecosystem in southeastern Thailand

Abstract

Colonies of Apis andreniformis and A. florea, had highly significant tendencies to be located near nests of their own species in a southeastern Thailand agro-ecosystem. A. andreniformis and A. florea chose similar nest sites, but the spatial correlations of their nesting sites were significantly negative, indicating that colonies may avoid areas containing nests of the other species. A. andreniformis nested at heights averaging about 6 m while A. florea nested at heights averaging about 4 m. The tendency of colonies of these species to establish their nest sites near existing nest sites of colonies of the same species may increase the probability that the newly selected nest sites are near suitable floral resources capable of supporting the survival and reproduction of the newer arrivals to the area. More importantly, spatial clumping probably helps assure that a colony's future reproductives will have potential mates within their mating range. Avoiding close association with colonies of conspecifics may help diminish interspecific interference with mating that may arise from the species having similar sex pheromones.