Stingless bee meliponiculture: evaluating the effects of climate control

Abstract This study investigates the effects of controlled and uncontrolled temperature conditions on the behavior, honey production, colony size, and health of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) colonies. The experiment was conducted at the Share Farm, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Melaka, Jasin Campus, using a total of four hives: three equipped with a climate control system and one without. Each temperature setting (30°C, 33°C, and 36°C) was applied over a 30-day period, and data were collected daily on bee activity, honey production, colony size and population dynamics, and hive health. This study is exploratory in nature and its findings are constrained by the small sample size, which limits the generalizability of the results. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to identify statistically significant differences among temperature groups, with post hoc comparisons conducted using Dunn’s test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that bee behavior was significantly higher at 30°C (H=34.068, p<0.01), while honey production peaked at 33°C (H=31.736, p<0.01). Colony size and population were most favorable at 30°C and 33°C (H=46.975, p<0.01), and hive health was significantly better under all controlled conditions 30°C, 33°C, and 36°C compared to the uncontrolled hive (H=119.000, p<0.01). These findings indicate that stable internal temperatures between 30°C and 33°C optimize colony activity and resilience, supporting the implementation of temperature regulation strategies in meliponiculture, particularly in tropical environments.