MANEJO Y CONTROL DE INVASIÓN DE ABEJAS MELÍFERASSILVESTRES (Apis mellifera, scutellata, Lepeletier, 1836) DENTRO DEL INGENIO AZUCARERO SAN JUAN

Abstract

The paper shows the implementation of a relocation and control management of wild honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata, Lepeletier, 1836) in an industrial infrastructure, corresponding to the Ingenio San Juan, located in Playas, province of Guayas-Ecuador. Most impacted areas within the industry by the invasion were the sites where processes like crystallization, centrifugation, dried and cooled, and packaged are performed. To assess the level of impact in each of the areas related to the production of sugar, surveys were conducted to technical, administrative and labor workers, showing that after the management, the damage was reduced between 80% and 90 %. The capture of invasive honeybees inside and outside of the Ingenio San Juan, was made by installing bees’ "packages", making the relocation of 994 000 disturbing organisms. The method of collection and control of wild honeybees based on the art of Beekeeping, it’s advisable to handle problems of bee invasion in anthropogenic sites as a resulting from adverse environmental conditions such as prolonged dry season and lack of flowering in natural habitats.