Journal
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
Volume 17, Issue 3, Pages 465-472Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10841-012-9528-6
Keywords
Apis mellifera; Honey bee; Hollow tree; Feral population
Categories
Funding
- EU Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme
- National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
- Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education [N N311 509639]
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Several honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies are in danger of local extinction because their feral population have almost completely disappeared. An important threat to the feral populations of bees is loss of habitat and loss of woodlands. In many places the only habitat suitable for honey bee nesting are rows of trees along roadsides. We studied a feral population of honey bees inhabiting avenues in northern Poland. We inspected 142 km of avenues and found 45 feral colonies. The estimated density of feral population inhabiting the avenues was 0.10 nest km(-2). Honey bees preferred to build their nests in trees with a thick trunk and a somewhat weak state of health. There was no strong preference of bees to any species of trees. We stress the importance of protection of existing avenues and creating new ones. This can provide suitable habitat not only for honey bees but also for other endangered species.
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