Identifying possible regions for using modified beehives in Saudi Arabia using a geographical information system (GIS)

Journal Article

Ghamdi, Ahmad Al Khazim Al . 2013

• المجلة \ الصحيفة: Journal of Agricultural Technology
• رقم العدد: 7
• رقم الإصدار السنوي: 9
• الصفحات: 1937-1945

مستخلص المنشور

The summer season in Saudi Arabia is hot and arid, which negatively
affects beekeeping activities and results in great colony losses each year. Not
all regions of Saudi Arabia are suitable for beekeeping in summer (Abou-
Shaaraet al., 2013) and the summer temperature in some regions of Saudi
Arabia could reach to 45°C (Al-Qarni, 2006). Honey bee colonies require
specific microclimatic conditions within their colonies including temperature
from 33 to 36°C (Petzet al., 2004) and relative humidity approximately 75 %
(Ellis et al., 2008). Due to the passive impacts of elevated temperature on
honey bees (e.g. Al-Ghamdi, 2005; Al-Qarni, 2006 & Joshi and Joshi, 2010)
honey bee workers always try to avoid any increase of temperature in the brood
nest (Allen, 1959 & Free and Spencer-Booth, 1962). Also, due to the
importance of relative humidity for brood rearing and egg hatching (Doull,
1976; Kuhnholz and Seeley, 1997 and Human et al., 2006) honey bee workers
try to avoid any dryness within their colonies. One suitable method for keeping
honey bee colonies during summer season of Saudi Arabia is the use of the
modified beehives.