The adaptability of the indigenous bees, Apis Cerana to top-bar hives in Sarawak/ Ron Ak. Ah Goh @Tan Hock Kheng

Beekeeping with indigenous bees, Apis cerana, in Sarawak is an aged-old tradition and passion among many of the rural communities. The use of the traditional log-hives using cutout tree trunks, bark and local lumber still exist. The introduction of modem beekeeping using the Malaysian modified Langstroth hives with movable-frame to the traditional beekeepers has met with limited success due to the high incidence of absconding. Therefore, there is a need to introduce more appropriate beekeeping technology such as the use of top-bar hives; commonly referred to as a transitional method of beekeeping. A 3x3x3 factorial experiment in a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) was carried out to evaluate the adaptability of Apis cerana to top-bar hives. The research investigations conducted revealed three significant outcomes. Firstly, the comb-space for Apis cerana in the coconut growing areas of Kota Samarahan was 28 mm. Secondly, a measuring device using an acrylic plastic grid incorporated with the use of a digital camera and computer made sampling for data collection more efficient and effective.