Background: Stingless bees (Meliponini) are essential pollinators in tropical ecosystems, yet traditional colony propagation methods-such as splitting and brood transfer-are labor-intensive and often stressful to colonies. The Hose Method, a newly introduced technique, aims to minimize disturbance by transferring bees and brood through a hose system. Empirical evaluation of its effectiveness and practicality remains limited. 
 
Methods: A one-year comparative experiment was conducted using 30 Tetragonula biroi colonies divided equally between traditional propagation and the Hose Method, with three replications per treatment. Monthly measurements included establishment success rates, brood cell counts, honey and pollen production, queen health, labor inputs, time requirements and cost efficiency. Chi-square tests and independent t-tests were used for statistical comparisons. 
 
Result: The Hose Method achieved a higher colony establishment success rate (87%) than traditional methods (60%) (&chi;2&nbsp;= 3.75, p = 0.053). Colonies propagated through the Hose Method exhibited significantly greater brood development (p = 0.0001), honey production (p&lt;0.0001) and pollen storage (p&lt;0.0001). Practicality metrics strongly favored the Hose Method, with significantly reduced time, labor and cost. Sustainability indicators, including survival rate, long-term productivity and beekeeper satisfaction, were significantly higher (p&lt;0.0001).

Stingless Bee Colony Propagation Through Hose Method: Effectiveness and Practicality

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Increasing agricultural output can be encouraged by fertilizing, even the greater the fertilizer is given, the higher the yield will be obtained. On the other hand pollinator services to increase agricultural output is also quite large, but this potential has not yet been optimized. Corn plants are monoecious but they are also protandry so pollinator services are needed. This research aims to get optimization of increasing yield of corn by fertilizing and pollination with stingless bees.&nbsp; Methods: The study was carried out at Korong Gadang sub-district, Kuranji District, Padang City at an altitude 20 m above sea level. &nbsp;The experiment comprised of 4 treatments laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice.&nbsp; Result: The results of the study showed a positive influence of doses inorganic fertilization and stingless bee on corn production. There was at an increase in the number of seeds per cob and cobs per plot due to fertilization than the pollination stingless bees. Increased seed production per plot due to fertilizer use ranged between 17.25 to 25.06% compared to organic manures. The pollination process could increase production in the range of 3,98 - 6.66% compared to wind pollination. Thus pollination with Tetragonula laeviceps could help seed yield per ha when accompanied by the application of inorganic fertilizers. The use of organic manures could not meet the nutrient requirement of the crop and hence production was low.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers and Stingless Bee Pollination on Increasing Productivity of Corn (Zea mays L.)</div>