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Dwarf Honey Bee: 6. A new colony develops

YC Wee
on 2nd January 2019

Dwarf Honey Bee: 1. Colony; 2. What happens when it rains?; 3. Bees have absconded; 4. A piece of damaged comb; 5. Invasion of Wax Moth.

Remnants of the old comb.

About five weeks after the Dwarf Honey Bee (Apis andreniformi) absconded, a new colony was seen developing near the old abandoned colony in the same Golden Penda tree (Xanthostemon chrysanthus). The new colony (below) is about 2 metres high, slightly lower than the old colony (above).

New colony.

The Bush Grape (Cayratia mollissima) covering my fence next to the tree has been flowering profusely all the time LINK. Swarms of Dwarf Honey Bees were seen daily, collecting nectar from the flowers – see video below.

We will be monitoring this second colony to see whether it will develop to its full potential. Or whether the Wax Moths will attack the colony again. Or the Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) will raid the colony for its honeycomb, as in the case of a nearby colony some months back LINK.

YC Wee & Dr Leong Tzi Meng
Singapore
9th December 2018

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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20th July 2024

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

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