Estimativas de parâmetros biométricos e produtivos para colônias de Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The Meliponiculture is an activity that has significant economic potential and is developing throughout Brazilian territory. This study aimed to analyze and estimate the biometric and productive parameters and their correlations in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides colonies in consecutive generations. Thus, sixty colonies from different municipalities of Bahia, were purchased and sending to the INSECTA, in Cruz das Almas, Bahia-BA, where the work was developed. The colonies went through acclimatization process of 30 days, later, were transferred to standard model INPA boxes and fed for 90 to 100 days, when he were made the first division of the parental colony (Parental - P) and measured biometric relative parameters. Data collection of subsequent generations also corresponded to the period from 90 to 100 days of the first division for F1 and 90 to 100 days of the formation of F1 to F2. The mean and standard deviation of biometric parameters for queen weight, colony weight, number, width and length of brood disc, number, diameter and volume of honey and pollen pots, population estimated, length of glossa and honey production, revealed significant variation, and the colonies of the F2 generation showed satisfactory values for traits. The correlations show that the features for increased honey production is dependent on the number of honey pots existing in the colony and the availability of flowering, as well as colony population is related to the characteristics of the brood discs and number of pollen pots.