The following points highlight the four major vertebrate pests that cause damage to honeybees. The vertebrate pests are: 1. Amphibians 2. Reptiles 3. Birds 4. Mammals.

Vertebrate Pest # 1. Amphibians:

Bee-keeping in tropical climates frequently suf­fers from damage caused by amphibians – toads including Bufo melanostictus and Kaloula pulchra and frogs including Rana limnocharis and Rana tigrina. The detection of this problem generally requires close observation.

Bee-keepers are normally unable to observe intense predation by amphibians on honey-bees in the daytime, when they are at work in their apiaries, because the heaviest attacks occur at night.

Often the problem goes unrecognized until a substantial fall in colony populations is perceived. One sign indicating that toads and frogs are preying heavily on the colonies is the presence of the preda­tors’ dark brown droppings, scattered in front of the hive entrance. If the dry faecal deposits are spread apart (e.g., with a twig), the remains of bee parts can be seen.

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Continuous predation by toads and frogs, if not prevented, results in a loss of colony strength. While colonies with moderate or larger worker populations can withstand the predation and subsequently recover their full strength.

However, weaker colonies are at considerable risk. Toads and frogs have similar attacking patterns. On arriving at the colony, the amphibians wait in the vicinity of the hive entrance, preying on passing bees. Colonies close to the ground provide easy access to the pre­dators, for which guard bees at the hive entrance are easy prey.

Control:

Although in some circumstances predation on honeybee colonies by amphibians cannot be overlooked, most bee-keepers perceive the problem as minor. Placing the hives on stands 40 to 60 cm high is usually a sufficient protective measure.

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