Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Preferences Among Artificial Nest Cavities

Abstract

Natural reproductive swarms of European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), when tested in choice experiments, rejected “bait hives” consisting of cardboard boxes covered with plastic in favor of reinforced wood pulp cavities. Pulp cavities that contained a pheromone lure were preferred over those without pheromone. The addition of melted beeswax or a thickened entrance to the artificial pulp cavities that contained a pheromone did not enhance their attractiveness. Attractiveness of artificial cavities to honey bee swarms depended upon the rate of pheromone release, and the longevity of lure attractiveness depended upon the surface area of the lure and the initial amount of pheromone.