Behaviour of Honeybee Colonies Under Controlled Environmental Conditions in a Flight Room

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Abstract
Throughout two winters, three honeybee colonies were kept in a flight cage (4·3 × 2·4 × 2·5 m) situated in an environment-controlled room. A 15 h-day, with dawn and twilight, was simulated with the help of 69 photo tubes. The room was maintained at 45 ± 5% relative humidity and at day and night temperatures of 24 ± 1° and 19 ± 1°C, respectively. Pollen, sugar solution (containing a little honey) and water were provided for collection by foraging bees, and daily food consumption was recorded. Bee mortality, colony weight, number of occupied combs, and brood area, were estimated for one colony throughout each season. A positive correlation was found between brood area and number of eggs laid, but results showed that not all brood was reared, and the colonies (small when put into the flight room) maintained lower populations than would be expected out of doors. It seems likely that this was due to the lack of fresh food and the restriction of the area for foraging—and possibly for swarming.