Determination of Bee Spacing and Comb Cell Dimension for Apis Mellifera Scutellate Races across Different Agro-Ecology in Western Ethiopia

—This investigation was done at Wombera and Pawe study areas of Metekel zone of Benishangul-gumuz regional state, western Ethiopia, with the aim of determine the bee spacing and cell dimensions and recommended an appropriate bee spacing and cell dimension for Apis mellifera scutellate. Wombera and Pawe study areas were selected to represent highland and lowland agro-ecologies respectively. The measurement of bee space, cell diameter, cell depth, comb thickness and hive dimension were taken from 20 traditional hives at each agroecology by using caliper to 0.1mm accuracy. Collected data were analyzed in descriptive statistics, correlation and General Linear Model (GLM) procedures using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The current study overall mean results of bee space, cell depth, cell diameter and comb thickness were 16.5±0.5mm, 10.4±0.06mm, 4.68±0.03mm, and 19.9±0.14mm respectively. The hive width and length were 27.1±0.5 cm and 76.5±0.9 cm respectively. The results of bee space and comb thickness showed significance difference among districts (P<0.05), whereas cell depth, cell diameter, hive length and hive width were not difference among districts (P>0.05). Therefore, there were differece in bee space and comb thickness in similar honeybee race among two different agro-ecologies but preparing of new casting molds and box hives consistent to the agro-ecologies