Nest architecture and management of jandaira bee (melipona subnitida ducke) in the semi-arid of Paraíba, Brazil

Our objective was to study the nest architecture and management of Jandaira bee at a commercial cultivation, located in São José do Rio do Peixe, semi-arid region of Paraiba, Brazil. Data was collected in colonies housed in rational nesting boxes, “Nordestina” model, from November 2014 to July 2015. Parameters related to the brood and food area were measured. For the brood area, the length, width and height (cm), number of brood combs per colony, number of brood cells per cm2, cell volume and cell height were measured. For the food area, the number of honey and pollen pots per colony, their height (cm) and diameter (cm), volume honey on pots (ml) and weight of pollen on pots (g) were evaluated. On average, 5.10 brood combs were found per colony, with 10.42cm in length and 5.58cm in width. We observed 4.10 brood cells per cm2, with diameter and height of 0.52cm and 0.79cm, respectively; an average of 30.41 honey pots, the height, diameter and volume showed, respectively, the mean values of 3.07cm, 3.05cm and 6.73ml. The average number of pollen pots was 12.21 units per colony, with 3.04cm in height, 2.8cm in diameter and 7.23g of weight per pot. The farming of Jandaíra bee in rational nesting boxes provides a better use of products made by these insects, offering better handling conditions to the beekeeper and preventing the destruction of native vegetation.