(INPA box) trigona

[Figure-1] Swarm Mandaguari

I took the day (01/31/2015) to a division of a swarm of Mandi Black, where it is housed in a 18x18 box INPA (internal measures, figure 1 illustrates this swarm). This swarm is already fruit a division, it is 3 months old and you will see from the pictures that the swarm is very well developed and strong, very strong alias, so that it was necessary to put Screensaver hat so I could have a little more comfort during use (activity) of the division.

[Figure-2] Preparations

Any division has to be planned in advance, or to prepare the new box to receive the division, in addition to supporting materials so that we can develop activity and that they are close and within reach.
The figure 2 illustrates this (material necessary tools).

[Figure-3] opened box (removal of supers)

Was removed from the supers, and just below the nest longer appears, was beginning to "stick" in the supers background (figure 3). Watch this swarm is only 3 months old, and see how he is strong and with great creates discs. The Mandaguari bee is surprising, because it is a crowded cluster, it makes them very defensive, including against phorid, which has no time with them.

[Figure-4] very large disks

Look at the figure-4, as the discs are large, the INPA 18x18 box is an ideal size to them, using INPA 20X20 will be a little big, but also works, I prefer 18x18 that fits best for this species.

[Figure-5] Mandaguari Discs

In figure 5 we can see the most closely discs, this time managed to take some pictures, it is difficult to reconcile the two things: division and take pictures.

[Figure-6] Module lower with mature discs

Well, as always tell if a breakdown, the ideal is that mature discs in the top of the nest, it greatly facilitates the division. In today's case, it was not possible, mature discs were at the bottom (see the figure 1, to remove the supers, the new disks were on). This is not an obstacle to divide a swarm simply will a little more complicated.Look at figure 6, we can see that there was unglued mature discs and leaves them stuck in the module structure, this facilitated because the other box is also INPA 18x18, so it took only fit this module in the new box.

[Figure-7] Box daughter riding

See in Figure 7-daughter already mounted box, as the modules are compatible, the division was very simple and fast. Daughter this box remains to implement the last module that is the supers, where it will contain container to put artificial food and wax pieces for the bees to use during the nest protection process.

[Figure-8] Box daughter

When we work with standardized boxes, the work within the Meliponiculture becomes easier, faster and efficient, without giving too much stress to the bees. As each meliponicultor enjoy working with their own boxes, we are far this standardization. Swarms matrices okay, can stay in any box that best suits the work of meliponicultor, but when swarms available for sale, which are in standardized boxes. Big hug and much success to you.

Division mandaçaia (successful technique)

[Figure-1] Open box, mature disk up

All ASF division is based on removing discs containing the sources offspring (mature discs) and set a new box where the foragers will be caught another box. Very simple this is not right!Yeah, but it has some comments should be followed in order to have success in any ASF Division (Bee Stingless). Look at figure 1, mature discs are practically glued to the plastic (the plastic is so that the bees do not stick to the wax on the cover, and this happens when you remove the lid, can damage discs).

[Figure-2] mature Discs

 That is, therefore, to mature discs (mature discs are those who have the light color) above, simply remove the housing, and remove all discs, for soon below will be the disks containing the new offspring is where the Queen will be doing the pose, to continue the growth of the cluster.

[Figure-3] Disks with new offspring (posture)

Look at figure 2, mature discs already removed the casing is conspicuous and ready to be removed and taken to an empty box and mount a new swarm.Well, when we remove the mature discs that were on, see how it was the nest (figure 3), below are the discs with new offspring (are the darker color discs). Intact, no stress to the bees and the queen will be safe.Very easy this. That is, if the mature discs is lowered and the discs with new cubs on top, and if you still try to make the division, would have to remove the entire nest to out of the box to get the mature discs would be down there.

[Figure-4] mature discs inside the box

And the trouble would be enormous, as would have to rummage in the very nest to cut it and this will lead to disruption of pollen pots, honey, and a lot of stress to the bees, not to mention the queen bee can even fall to the ground, if you not careful, because it will be between the wax plates (housing) and the time of removal, it may fall to the ground without you see. Did you see how much risk we run because of a breakdown when mature disks are down the nest, it is buddy.

[Figure-5] box mounted with discs

In Figures 4 and 5 we can see the mature discs have housed inside the box. In this division I have not used the beeswax, because at the time was out, but it is okay to cover discs with the wax. It may be the wax other boxes also without problems. SUMMARY:When making the division, open the box and see if the mature discs are on, if not, write down the date of the inspection and after 15 days back and look again . ATTENTION:  . Upon opening the box, has to be evaluated as they are the disks that are on top, because the queen can still be there doing posture, then the waiting time must be greater following these guidelines, you are sure that you will succeed in all divisions.

Borá (Jataizão) the tree trunk

[Figure-1] Borá in trunk

I was walking through the interior of Minas Gerais, walking the fields of roads, my keen eye soon saw a beautiful swarm of Borá in a tree trunk. I could not resist and soon I approached closer look and to analyze the site. This cluster (Figure-1) is the side of a road, the tree is still alive, that is, can not be cut, so the swarm will be safe for long.

[Figure-2] swarm entry

If the tree with the trunk was in disrepair and risk to the swarm, would certainly have taken the decision to remove him to a rational box. But in the present scenario, there is no risk. Only one sharp eyes can view it, so will be safe. It's a very defensive swarm, but very beautiful.

INPA box - protection in the commissioning

[Figure 1] Uruçu Yellow

All ASF box (Bee Stingless) can be attacked by the lizards, the support to provide this protection, then we can dispense with housing inlet protection.Look at figure 1, as the Yellow Uruçus are already adjusting the shape of the input (characteristic of this species) into the protective, or easily fit.

[Figure-2] Uruçu Yellow

Figure-2 shows with a little more detail this entry, which is streaked with mud, is still forming, because the swarm is newly divided (new swarm).

[Figure-3] Mandaguari Yellow

The Yellow Mandaguari also felt very comfortable with the installed protection because they made ​​their entry into the protection feature. Anyway, try to help the bees to make them feel more comfortable in the item protection, leaving more time for them to develop elsewhere , honey production, wax, propolis, etc., because the entrance is not an item to worry.

Uruçu True (division) - practicality of INPA box

[Figure-1] mature Discs Uruçu True

Beauty !!! This is the reaction of any meliponicultor to open the box of your bees. Ready to be divided. Figure-1 illustrates just that, mature discs in one magnifying handles the INPA box.Ready, simply remove the handle and mount a new daughter box, this very simple, is not it !!! Well, if the box model was different from the INPA, probably would not be that simple.

[Figure-2] Nest and sobreninho

See in figure 2, as it was after the removal of the upper handle (where the records were created mature), stood with new offspring and also substantially more mature chicks in the bottom part (nest). There was no rupture of pollen pots and honey, was a quick division without stress to the bees and without risk. All this because of the practicality of the INPA box.

[Figure-3] New handle on the box

After removal of the handle with mature discs, a new mother was placed in box (figure 3), in order for that nest can grow. Remember that the boxes are within a pattern, that is, all the boxes have the same size, this allows the exchange of modules (handles).

[Figure-4] Cash mother with new module (handle)

See how was the mother box (figure 4) on the module (new) was placed one supers, also new, since the supers mother box was also the daughter box. After that, simply seal with masking tape (unions of each module), put artificial food and if necessary, put trap Phoridae.

IRAI - Multiplication

[Figure-1] Nest Irai

A little bee friendly, quiet, shy and very gentle, but very gentle it is the RIIA. She is so gentle and timid, that when approached the box entrance, they just run inside, hide, awesome. Today (08 / 11/2014) opened the box to give a matrix inspected and is not that I came across the mature creates discs on top, practically glued to the box cover (figure 1)!

[Figure-2] creates discs

Okay, I wasted no time, so I went into a room, which was carried out quickly and efficiently because when mature discs are on, it is very easy to divide (this is true for any kind of ASF (Stingless Bees ). The discs of this bee species are elicoidais (see the figure-2), that is, when we remove the mature discs, you will reach a point that will break, unlike mandaçaia by code example, the discs are unique (easier to separate).

[Figure-3] Box INPA 15x15

This cluster has been split to Iraí is housed within a 15x15 Caisa INPA with two modules to nest and one for nmelgueira. The species produces very little honey and wax is generally a more dry and crumbly, unlike Jatai, which is well softer.

[Figura-4] Entrada da Irai

The box the entrance to the Irai need to be a bit wider (figure 4), to give it greater flexibility of input and output of workers. If the entry is very narrow, they are "bumping" with the wood. They come flying and virtually "fall" into the box, so the entry needs to be wider. It is a bee not bother anyone, so meek ​​and quiet it is, is not territorial (different from Jatai, which is disturbing other swarms and is very territorial), so can live alongside other species without problems.

[Figure-5] set of boxes

It's what we can see in figure 5, the Irai living with swarms of mandaçaia and Mirim's. Very cool that bee species.

Melgueira of Uruçu Yellow

[Figure-1] Melgueira of Uruçu Yellow

When we talk about stingless bees (ASF)
were just wondering how the honey of them, as they store the stock of honey and pollen. Most people know the APIS (bee with stinger) and the format of the honeycombs, it is , stingless bees the process is quite different, they store honey or pollen in pots made ​​of wax, and many times the size of these pots can reach the size of a hen's egg, that when the swarm is very strong.

[Figura-2] mel Potes

Notice how the shape of the pots, Figures 1 and 2 illustrates this.The pots are closed means that the honey is matured and ready to be harvested and eaten while the others are open are not ready for consumption, that is, they are open for precisely that amount of water can be evaporated when the bees and has given notice that the extent that they simply seal pot.

[Figura-3] mel Potes

How to harvest this honey !!!Well, one way is to use a syringe with a caninho at the tip and go sucking the honey pot by pot.Another way is to use a vacuum breast pump, which also is nothing more than suck the honey pot pot, but the process is faster.Some like to stick all the pots and then turn the supers upside down and let the honey stay running (hard about twenty minutes) and then returns the supers to her place.

[Figure-4] True Uruçu Honey Pots

We removed the honey so that the pots remain preserved, that is, the bees will use them again to store another shipment of honey. Imagine you take honey with wax, and then knead the wax. By doing this the supers will run out of wax and much less without the pots. There, the bees will spend a lot of time rebuilding the pots or doing it all over again. Leaving intact pots, they use less energy and will just be harvesting nectar and turning into honey, that is we have to save their time and make things easier for them.

[Figure-5] of the True Uruçu honey pots More

Look in Figures 4 and 5, the pots are the True Uruçu, see how great they are.

[Figure-6] Uruçu True Honey Pots

Beyond the pleasure of creating them, we still have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious honey they produce. Create stingless bees is more than a hobby:  . is a passion that we are born with it big hug and much success to you.