Determining the

Optimal Distribution of
Bee Colony Locations to
Avoid Overpopulation
Using Mixed Integer
Programming

Ramon Joseph P. Esteves

Michael C. Villadelrey
Jomar F. Rabajante
LOGO
University of the Philippines Los Baños
 Contents

1 Introduction
Our Environment and the Bees

2 Problem
Overpopulation of Bees

3 Solution
Formulation of the model

4 Conclusion

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 Introduction

Our Environment Today

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 Introduction

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 Introduction

Bagyong Ondoy

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 Introduction

One of the causes is…

Before After

… the continuous decrease in the number of trees.

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 Introduction

One of the solutions is…

…pollination management.

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 Problem

A Story of Mr. Velimor,

a beekeeper

What would Mr. Velimor do?

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 Solution

Mr. Velimor may relocate some colonies so that

competition among bees will be minimized.

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 Solution

priority
4 Plant 2
weight
Cluster
Possible 1
Relocation 1
Site 1
Possible
Relocation
Site 2

Plant Plant
Cluster Cluster
2 3
carrying
3 1 capacity

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 Solution

HOW?

We must model the

situation mathematically

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 Solution

Assumptions:
 bee colonies are non-migratory,
 a beehive contains one colony only,
 the input and output values are
deterministic,
 the resources have constant carrying
capacity, and
 the strength of each bee colony does not
change for a certain period of time

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 Solution

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 Solution

The goal is to maximize the number of colonies to be relocated at

available sites, considering beekeeper’s preference, with minimum
degree of overpopulation

strength of the colony to be amount of overpopulation

relocated at a site with the bee
keeper’s preference

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 Solution

(represents distribution of the strengths of colonies relocated at a site

connected to the connected plant clusters)

(represents contribution of a site, in terms of colony strengths, to the carrying

capacity of the connected plant cluster)

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 Solution

(represents how the strengths will be relocated to the sites with the assurance that
the colony will not be subdivided into parts)

(assures that the colony will have unique relocation site)

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 Solution

Model Testing on a
Hypothetical Scenario

Example 1
• Consider a small field community with 3
available relocation sites, 6 plant clusters and
6 colonies of Trigona biroi Friese.
• The maximum flight distance of T. biroi is set
at 500m.
• Assume that the beekeeper gives “4” as
priority weight to relocation site 1, and the
reference number is 100 foragers.
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 Solution

Strengths of Colonies Carrying Capacities of Plant Clusters

Colony Strength Plant Cluster Capacity

Colony 1 1 Cluster 1 1
Colony 2 2 Cluster 2 2
Colony 3 ½ Cluster 3 2
Colony 4 3 Cluster 4 ½
Colony 5 ¼ Cluster 5 5
Colony 6 4 Cluster 6 1

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 Solution

4 Plant
Possible Plant Cluste
Relocation Cluste 1 1/
r4 2
Site 1 r1

1
Possible
Plant Relocation
Cluste Site 2
r3
Plant 2
Cluste
r2
Plant Possible
2 Cluste Relocation Plant
r5 Site 3 Cluste
1 r6
5 1

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 Solution

Objective function

Constraint 1

Constraint 2

Constraint 3

Constraint 4

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 Solution

By using an Operations Research software, we will

have the following result of the given Mathematical
Program:

Overpopulation can be avoided by relocating

the colonies as shown in the following table:

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 Solution

Colony Site

1 1

2 3

3 1

4 1

5 1

6 3

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 Solution

Example 2

We consider the same scenario in Example 1,

but this time the carrying capacities of the plant
clusters were changed to ½, 1, 1, ¼, 2½ and ½,
respectively.

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 Solution
Solution

Strengths of Colonies Carrying Capacities of Plant Clusters

Colony Strength Plant Cluster Capacity

Colony 1 1 Cluster 1 ½
Colony 2 2 Cluster 2 1
Colony 3 ½ Cluster 3 1
Colony 4 3 Cluster 4 ¼
Colony 5 ¼ Cluster 5 2 ½
Colony 6 4 Cluster 6 ½

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 Solution

4 Plant
Possible Plant Cluste
Relocation Cluste 1/
1/ r4 4
Site 1 r1 2

1
Possible
Plant Relocation
Cluste Site 2
r3
Plant 1
Cluste
r2
Plant Possible
1 Cluste Relocation Plant
r5 Site 3 Cluste
1 r6
2. 1/
5 2
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 Solution

The same software was used and the

following results was obtained:

Overpopulation cannot be avoided but can be

minimized by relocating the colonies at different
sites as shown in the following table:

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 Solution

Colony Site

1 3

2 3

3 1

4 1

5 2

6 1

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 Conclusion

 We can use mathematical models to

optimally distribute bee colonies.

 By distributing the bee colonies,

overpopulation in a certain area can be
minimized.

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 Acknowledgements

 UPLB Bee Program

 College of Arts and Sciences,

UPLB

 Institute of Mathematical
Sciences and Physics, UPLB

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LOGO