Seasonal Monitoring of Microclimate Parameters of Honeybee ( Apis mellifera) Colonies in Relation to External Climatic Conditions in South Korea

Accelerating climate change has increasingly challenged apicultural farms in managed honeybee ( Apis mellifera) colonies. Although various management strategies are being explored to adapt to extreme climate events, fundamental data on the domestic environmental conditions remain limited. This study aims to document annual variations in the internal microclimate of honeybee hives and evaluate the impact of external climatic conditions on the hives’ internal environment. Temperature and relative humidity sensors were installed both inside and outside the hives across 10 apiaries in 9 regions of the Republic of Korea. These weather conditions(temperature and relative humidity) were monitored for a period of one year. Results indicated that internal hive temperatures ranged from -8.2°C to 49.6°C, while average internal relative humidity levels ranged from 16.4% to 97.8%. Comparisons by hive material revealed that EPP(Expanded polypropylene) hives demonstrated more stable internal temperature and relative humidity patterns in response to fluctuations of external temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, external temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with the internal hive microclimate. These findings provide foundational insights to inform honeybee management practices under domestic climate conditions.