Investigation of the Best Artificial Propagation Technique for Stingless Bee Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Meliponiculture (keeping stingless bees) is a practice that growing rapidly in the tropical and subtropical regions of world. A limited number studies regarding technique would be most accurate propagating colonies to increase their numbers. Three different artificial propagation techniques were investigated Ladang 10, Universiti Putra Malaysia. techniques, namely splitting, bridging, splitting conducted for eight consecutive weeks. Honey pot quantity pollen recorded weekly The success colony division under all parameters taken observed weekly. significant difference (F = 15.04, df 2, P <.0001) was detected pots between but not honey 0.22, 0.8054). bridging lowest while there no splitting-bridging techniques. result showed obtained new brood cells queen Heterotrigona itama. developed without queen, whereas produced only pots. matured queen’s presence can defeat due its pheromones function.