Time of Drone Flight in the Three Asiatic Honeybee Species (Apis Cerana, Apis Florea, Apis Dorsata)

Abstract
At Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) three species of Apis are found in the same biotope. The daily periods of drone flight were found to be specific: Apis florea 12.00–14.30 h, with greatest flight activity around 13.30 h; Apis cerana 16.15–17.15 h, with greatest activity at 17.00 h; Apis dorsata 18.00–18.45 h (at dusk), with greatest activity at 18.20 h. Possible causes and consequences of these well separated drone flight times are discussed, in relation to the fact that the sex attractant of the 4 species is the same.