Ethiopia is well-known for its wide range of agro-climatic conditions and biodiversity, which has supported the existence of diverse honeybee flora and a large number of beehive colonies (Fichtl and Admasu, 1994; Adgaba, 2007). The country's diverse agroclimatic characteristics generate conducive environmental conditions for the cultivation of over 7000 species of flowering plants, the majority of which are bee plants (Fichtl and Admasu, 1994; Nuru, et al., 2002). Ethiopia has the largest bee population in Africa, with over 10 million bee colonies, of which 5 to 7.5 million are estimated to be hived, with the remaining existing in the wild (MoARD, 2007; Akessa, 2016; CSA, 2017; Negash and Greiling, 2017). The total annual beeswax production is estimated to be over 3,800 tons. With this quantity, the country ranks fourth in the world in beeswax production. Furthermore, Ethiopia can generate up to 500,000 tons of honey and 50,000 tons of beeswax per year (GDS, 2009).
In Ethiopia, despite the potential of apicultural resources, production and productivity are relatively low. This could be attributed to many factors such as the way of management, the environment, and the race of honey bees. It is known that the physical environment (altitude, vegetation, climate, etc.) dramatically affects the behavior and the productivity of honey bee colonies (Mossie, 2019). In addition, honeybee colonies do not perform equally even under the same environmental conditions and managerial practices (Al-Ghamdi et al., 2013). Honeybee colonies' performance (strength and productivity) is determined by the total area of comb in the colony, which contains stored honey, pollen, and brood, the adult bee population, weight per bee, and the colony nest cavity volume ratio (Vaudo et al., 2012; Wray, 2010). Colony defense, which includes recognizing predators, alerting nestmates, and enacting anti-predator behavior, is a well-known type of behavior in honey bees (Collins et al., 1980; Moritz et al., 1987; Breed et al., 2004). Swarming and colony defense have long been recognized by beekeepers, who have used breeding strategies to reduce their expression in defiance of natural selection (Mobus, 1983; Villumstad, 1983). For example, swarming is the natural way for honey bee colonies to reproduce, and this behavior is thus closely linked to fitness; however, beekeepers prefer colonies that never swarm. Defensive behavior is also frowned upon by beekeepers, but even the most docile honey bee colonies can fall prey to natural enemies such as wasps, birds, or mammals. Recent research has focused on behaviors related to colony health and disease control, such as hygienic behavior and grooming (Gilliam, et al., 1983; Spivak, 1996.).The expression of these behavioral traits can be strongly influenced by environmental factors and beekeeping management techniques. Nonetheless, they are known to differ in distinctive ways among the many honey bee subspecies and populations that have been scientifically described to date (Adam, 1968; Ruttner, 1988). Indeed, the honey bees of Ethiopia form a population of their own that is distinct and well separated from the honey bees of Africa (Meixner et al., 2011). The variations include all the desired and undesired traits in production, productivity, and behavior. Study shows that in Ethiopia, small lowland honeybees are very aggressive and more productive than honeybees of the highland areas larger in size, docile in behavior, and less productive (Light, et al., 2017). Consequently, A.m. scutellata is one of the honey bee races found in the lowlands of Ethiopia.
In east Africa, A.m.scutellata is found from 500–2400 meters, in rich savannah and semi-evergreen deciduous forests (Smith, 1961). In Ethiopia, the A.m.scutellata is distributed in the western humid mid-land parts, including southwestern parts of Gojjam (around Bir Sheleko and Chagni), all areas of Wollega, west of Nekemte and Shambu up to Assosa and Dembidolo (Nuru, 2002). The continuous distribution of this group was also observed in similar ecological areas in southwest parts of Ethiopia in places like Gecha and Masha (Amssalu, 2002). The A.m.scutellata colony found in the area shows highly aggressive behavior and other undesirable behaviors constraint for the beekeeping sectors.
Good quality stocks must be established in apiaries, then multiplied and maintained to reap the benefits of beekeeping. As a result, evaluating the performance of the A.m.scutellata race is essential for future selection and improvement. However, no research on A.m.scutellata's performance in Ethiopia has been conducted. So, this study aimed to determine the performance of A.m.scutellata honey bee races in the study area.