Temperature regulation of Heterotrigona itama (Cockerell, 1918) in lamp posts nests. Temperature regulation of Heterotrigona itama (Cockerell, 1918) in lamp posts nests.. pp. 1-15. (2024)
Abstract
The commercial stingless bee Heterotrigona itama naturally nests in tree cavities but was kept in wooden boxes in meliponiculture farms. However, at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), these bees primarily nest in lamp posts. We conducted a temperature survey to assess lamp posts as potential
nesting sites for H. itama, aiming to determine if the preference for occupied lamp posts was related to
their distribution. We measured ambient temperatures in occupied lamp posts in shaded areas and unoccupied lamp posts in exposed areas on the UMS campus, calculating the percentage of time these temperatures fell outside the optimal range for H. itama. Additionally, we analyzed the occurrence and timing of temperature regulation in lamp post nests by comparing temperature differences between
occupied and unoccupied lamp posts across four-time blocks. Temperature measurements of occupied (shaded) and unoccupied (exposed) lamp posts revealed that shaded lamp posts experienced temperatures outside the bees' optimal range (27°C-32°C) less often than exposed lamp posts (68.4%
vs. 78.12%). This suggests that H. itama may prefer shaded lamp posts due to their more stable
temperature profile. Additionally, the internal temperature of lamp posts, whether occupied or not, was
consistently 1.54–1.76°C warmer than ambient during hotter periods and closer to ambient during
cooler periods, indicating inherent insulation properties of the metal lamp posts. However, a notable difference in temperature between occupied and unoccupied posts was observed in the late afternoon and evening, suggesting active thermoregulation by bees to maintain optimal nest temperature.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Thermoregulation, Meliponiculture, Nest sites |
| Taxonomy: | By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Ecology By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Research |
| Local Content Hub: | Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) |
| Depositing User: | Nor Azimahwati Aris |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Aug 2025 04:13 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Aug 2025 04:13 |
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