Apipop: an integrated model for honeybee population dynamics and hive management

A large amount of knowledge about honeybees exists and it is also rapidly increasing, converging from different scientific fields. Despite this availability, the integration of this knowledge for applied and research purposes is not quite easy. To overcome this problem, a model (ApiPop v. 2) for the simulation of the honeybee population dynamics and hive management has been developed. The model is formed by eight modules: AP-colony(honeybee colony dynamics); AP-cells(cell building and filling); AP-foraging(foraging activity in the field); AP-vegetation(vegetation distribution around the hive, as nectar and pollen source); AP-queen(queen egg laying and strength); AP-production(honey and pollen production); APvarroa(varroa biology and control); AP-beekeeping(hive management: super installing and removal, pollen collection, glucidic and proteic nutrition, queen insertion and supersedure, orphanization, elimination of queen cells, comb insertion and removal, chemical treatments against Varroa mite). The model ApiPop has been developed and is currently maintained by an Italian research group using the modeling framework SEMoLa