Termorregulação e ambiência em colmeias de abelhas Apis e Meliponas.

Abstract

Bees, especially the social ones, are considered heterothermal, since they have endothermic characteristics, when active, and ectothermic, when inactive. Ectothermy is a characteristic of some animals whose body temperature is determined by external factors. In endothermy, there is a physiological regulation of body temperature. These characteristics allow the control, up to a point, of temperature and humidity within the colony, thus enabling the maintenance of internal homeostasis. This being an important aspect mainly for the survival of the bee brood. The objective of this work is to review data from scientific publications that show thermoregulation and its mechanism in bee colonies belonging to the Apini (Apis genus) and Meliponini tribes. As well as analyzing possible ambience options used in apiculture or meliponiculture aimed at improving the thermal well-being of the colonies, which would guarantee a lower energy expenditure with thermoregulation, in addition to reducing the loss of bee brood.