EFFECT OF SHADING AND VENTILATION ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER CONSUMED FOR COOLING BEEHIVE DURING SUMMER SEASON

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of apiary shading and ventilation of beehives on the amount of water consumed for cooling beehive, L/d. Ninety hives from Langstroth type were used containing honeybee colonies of equal strength from the species of hybrid carniolan. To study the effect of shading, hives were divided into three groups. The first group were shaded at a height of 2 m from the ground surface. The second group was covered with shaded material. The third group was un-shaded. To permit hive ventilation, four screened hive openings were studied [two holes (6 cm) at the bottom board; an opening with dimensions of 25 x 25 cm at the bottom board; two openings at the lower north side and two openings at the upper south side; two openings at the upper north side and another two opening on the same line; and all were compared with the un-opened hives]. The experimented hives were insulated inside with foam and compared with the un-insulated hives. It was observed that the minimum internal hive temperature (25.5 °C); the minimum internal relative humidity (36 %); the minimum amount of hive water consumption (0.220 L/d); high flight activity (216 workers per 5 minutes); the maximum amount of extracted honey per hive (8.2 kg/hive) and the minimum cost of production were achieved by using a ventilated hive with two screened holes (6 cm) at the bottom; shading height of 2 m and foam insulated hive. It is recommended to use a ventilated hive with two screened holes (6 cm) at the bottom; shading height of 2 m; and foam insulated hive to achieve best measurements.