THE NATURAL NEST AND NEST DENSITY OF THE AFRICANIZED HONEY-BEE (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE) NEAR TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Natural nests of the Africanized honey bee near Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, were examined during March and April 1988, approximately 18 months after initial colonization. Most were in hollow trees, but open nests and nests in arboreal termite nests occurred. All nests were less than 6 months old and most less than 2 months. The modal cavity volume was 10-20 L. No brood diseases were seen. Colony density was estimated to be about six per square kilometer, higher than the density of man-kept hives.