Assessing the density of honey bee colonies at ecosystem scales

Abstract

1. Information about the density of wild honey bee (<i>Apis</i> spp.) colonies in an ecosystem is central to understanding the functional role of honey bees in that ecosystem, necessary for effective biosecurity response planning, and useful for determining whether pollination services are adequate. However, direct visual surveys of colony locations are not practical at ecosystem scales. Thus, indirect methods based on population genetic analysis of trapped males have been proposed and implemented.<br/>2. In this review, indirect methods of assessment of honey bee colony densities are described, which can be applied at ecosystem scales. The review also describes how to trap males in the field using the Williams drone trap (or virgin queens) the appropriate genetic markers and statistical analyses, and discusses issues surrounding sample size.<br/>3. The review also discusses some outstanding issues concerning the methods and the conversion of estimated colony number to colony density per km². The appropriate conversion factor will require further research to determine the area over which a drone trap draws drones.