Foraging activities of Wallacetrigona incisa (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) and its relationship with abiotic factors in different environments

Abstract

Wallacetrigona incisa (Apidae: Meliponinae) is a stingless bee found only in Sulawesi’s highlands. Because honey production from W. incisa in the highlands was excellent, several beekeepers raised these bees in the lowlands, which had distinct physical environmental circumstances. Observations on W. incisa colony development in the lowlands revealed a deterioration in bee colony quality and, eventually, death. No previous studies have reported the causes of the decline of W. incisa colonies in the lowlands. The goal of this study is to identify changes in W. incisa foraging behavior and honey production in lowland environments. Foraging activity was observed using the focal sampling method. The results revealed a decline in the number of W. incisa in the lowlands, as well as alterations in the pattern of foraging activities. This is due to W. incisa’s intolerance of high temperatures in the lowlands, which inhibits its daily activity. Wallacetrigona incisa’s low adaptation in the lowlands is a result of the changes in environmental conditions and food supplies. The available food sources are also incompatible with the foraging preferences of W. incisa. In the highlands, W. incisa collects pollen primarily from trees in highlands, but from shrubs and plantation crops in the lowlands. As a result, W. incisa cannot produce honey that farmers could gather. When environmental conditions change, a species’ flexibility can be used to its advantage or disadvantage in competition and survival. However, alterations in biotic and abiotic variables in the new environment pose a major threat to W. incisa.

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