apiculture
TRANSCRIPT
POTENTIALS OF
BEE KEEPING IN
INDIA
BY
Dr. JAYESH PASTAGIA
TAXONOMIC POSITION OF HONEYBEE
KINGDOM: ANIMALIA PHYLUM: ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM: MANDIBULATA SUPPERCLASS : HEXAPODA CLASS : INSECTA SUBCLASS : PTERYGOTA INFRACLASS: ENDOPTERYGOTA SUPERORDER: HYMENOPTEROIDEA ORDER: HYMENOPTERA SUBORDER:APOCRITA SUPERFAMILY :
APOIDEA FAMILY: APOIDAE
SUBFAMILY :APINAE GENUS :
APIS
HONEY BEE
Species:
Giant rock bee -Apis dorsata Little bee -Apis florea Indian bee -Apis cerena European bee-Apis mellifera
GIANT ROCK BEE Apis dorsata
• CONSTRUCT LARGE SINGLE COMB IN OPEN PLACE
• FURACIOUS IN NATURE
• DIFFICULT TO DOMESTICATE
• HONEY IS UNRIPE HAVING HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT
• CONTRIBUTE TO MAJOR PART OF INDIAN HONEY
LITTLE BEE -Apis florea
• CONSTRUCT PALM SHAPED SMALL COMB IN OPEN PLACE
• FREQUENT ABSCONDING HABIT
• LOW HONEY PRODUCTION
• HAVING UNRIPE HONEY.
INDIAN BEE – Apis cerana
INDIGENEOUS SPECIES
CONSTRUCT PARALLEL COMBS IN DARK PLACE
DOMESTIATED SPECIES
STORE SEALED RIPE HONEY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO WAX MOTH
European bee-Apis mellifera
INTRODUCED SPECIES FROM ITALY
CONSTRUCTS PARELLEL COMB IN DARK PLACES
HIGHLY DOMESTICATED
STORES SEALED RIPE HONEY
GOOD HONEY GATHERING CAPACITY
DAMMER BEES (NON APIS)
Melipona Spp.
Trigona Spp.
They are the smallest of the honey yielding bees.
The substance known as ‘Bee Dammer’ or ‘Pive-nyet’ is obtained from these bees.
Used for varnishing and for caulking boats to make them water proof.
Due to smaller size useful; for pollinating small flowers.
QUEEN• PERFECTLY DEVELOPED FEMALE• MOTHER OF COLONY• ONLY ONE QUEEN IN A COLONY• DEVELOPED FROM FERTILIZED
EGGS• RELEASE QUEEN SUBSTANCE• GOES FOR NUPTUAL FLIGHT
AFTER EMERGENCE FROM QUEEN CELL
• NEVER LEAVE COLONY• PERFORM FUNCTIONS OF
EGGLAYING
DRONEMALE - DEVELOPED FROM
UNFERTILIZED EGGS LAID BY FEMALE
ONLY FUNCTION IS TO MATE WITH QUEEN DURING NUPTUAL FLIGHT
THEY ARE FEWER IN NUMBERS
ENJOY FRESH AIR AND SUNLIGHT
PRODUCED WHEN REQUIREDDRIVEN OUT OF COLONY BY
WORKERS WHEN NOT NEEDED
WORKERS
œ IMPERFECTLY DEVELOPED FEMALE
œ DEVELOPED FROM FERTILIZED EGGS LAID BY QUEEN
œ LARGE NUMBERS OF WORKERS IN COLONY
œ HAVING MATERNAL INSTINCTœ PERFORM VARIOUS FUNCTIONS
FOR THE WELFARE OF COLONYœ LIVE FOR SIX WEEKS ONLY
INDOOR DUTIES (UPTO FIRST THREE WEEKS)
1-3 DAYS : CELL CLEANINNG 4-13 DAYS : SECRETION OF ROYAL JELLY (NURSE BEES) 13-17 DAYS: CARPENTER BEES SECRETE WAX COMB CONSTRUCTION REPAIRING COMB MAINTAINING TEMP. OF HIVE RIPPENING OF HONEY 18-20 DAYS : GAURD BEE
OUT DOOR DUTIES(REST OF THREEWEEKS):
SEARCHERS GATHEREARS
Stinging: Protecting colonies
Protecting colonies from outsiders
Fertilized Egg
Development of worker
Development of Queen
Worker
Queen
COMMUNICATION
Table 1. WORLD HONEY PRODUCTION
CONTINENTS PRODUCTION (IN 1000 TONNES)
1991 1995 2000 2001
AFRICA 109 138 144 145
N’& CENTRAL AMERICA
222 183 208 205
SOUTH AMERICA
87 105 141 131
ASIA 334 365 457 465
EUROPE 180 319 286 288
OCEANIA 29 27 29 29
TOTAL 961 1137 1132 1263
Anonymous, 2003
Table 2. WORLD HONEY PRODUCTION
COUNTRY PRODUCTION (IN 1000 TONNES)
1998 1999 2000 2001
CHINA 211 236 252 256
USSR 134 132 124 125
USA 100 94 100 100
U.E. 109 117 112 111
ARGENTINA 75 93 98 90
UKRAIN 59 55 52 52
MEXICO 55 55 59 56
INDIA 51 51 52 52
CANADA 46 37 31 32
AUSTRELIA 22 19 19 19
BRAZIL 18 19 22 20
HUNGERY 17 16 15 16
Anonymous, 2003
Sr.No.
Parameter China India
1 . A mellifera colonies 5.19 million 0.15 million
2 Honey production 200 thousand tonnes
10 thousand tonnes
3 Honey yield / colony of A. mellifera
40 kg 15-20 kg
4 Royal jelly production 1800 tonnes -
5 Pollen production 1000 tonnes -
6 Honey export 69958 tonnes -
3 : Table Comparison of beekeeping in China and India
(1993)
x
Estimated honey production of India (2002-03) in M.T.
A. cerena, 8000
A. mellifera,
20000
A. dorsata, 22000
A. florea, 5000 Apiary:
28000 M.T.
Total 55,000 M.T.
Forest Honey: 27000 M.T.
Wakode,2004
Fig 1.
Table 4. Present position of A. cerena and A. mellifera colonies along with honey production in India
Sr
No
States A. cerena A. mellifera
No.of colonies
Prod. (q)
No. of colonies Prod (q)
1 Kerala, T.N. Karnataka, W.B., Bihar, Assam, A.P. Manipur 909474 60,070 100000 (Bihar) 25000
2. Punjab -- -- 200000 40,000
3. Himachal Pradesh 400 35 25000 6500
4. Haryana -- -- 75000 10500
5. Jammu & Kashmir 15000 2250 51000 7730
6. Other states: Rajasthan, U.P.M.P., Chattisghar, Jarkhand, Maharastra, Meghalaya,Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh
6500 21050000 (U.P. A.P., Kerala, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Orrisa)5000
Total 921374 62565 515000 94730
Total colonies: 14,36,374
A. cerena Average : 6.79 Kgs. A. mellifera Average : 18.39 Kgs. Goyal,2003
FIG 2. POTENTIAL AREAS (SHADED) OF BEEKEEPING IN THE COUNTRY
Table 5.Species of honey bee in different states
BEE SPECIES
STATE
Apis dorsata
Andhra Pradesh, Madhya PradeshKarnataka, Bihar
Apis cerena
Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka,Maharastra North East
Apis mellifera
Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar
Apis florea Gujarat (Kutchh)
Trigona iridepennis
Kerala, Karnataka, North East
India will have to produce more and more farm products from less and less land and water. The higher production will have to come from technologies that are eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable. Bee keeping is one of such technologies that generates income from multiple channels.
This enterprise is capable of enhancing national production by utilizing natures gift which until going waste and that too without any suffering the nature or damaging the environment.
Bee keeping does not have any specific land requirement; bee colonies can be placed in waste lands, uncultivated areas,, forests, on the margin of field, along side the road, canals and railway tract etc
Bee keeping can profitably integrated with agriculture/ intensive farming system without any competition for input resources and can proved to boon for uplift of unemployed, underemployed, landless rural people and labour class
Swaminathan ,1995
HIGHLY PROFITABLE AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATING ENTERPRISE
MULTIPRONGED EMPLOYMENT GENERATINGFIVE TIRE ACTIVITY: DIRECT PRODUCTION OF BEE PRODUCTS FROM BEE
COLONIES MULTIPLICATION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS QUEEN BEE
BREEDING, PRODUCTION OF NUCLEUS COLONIES AND PACKAGE
FABRICATION OF BEE KEEPING EQUIPMENT PROCESSING, PACKAGING OF BEE PRODUCTS AND
TRADE ACTIVITIES CUSTOM SERVICE / CONSULTANCY FOR CROP
POLLINATION AND BEE MANAGEMENT ASPECTS
GATORIA et. al.,2002
TO MAINTAIN 10,000 BEE COLONIES: 58,500 MAN DAYS MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT& APPLIANCES 3,00,000 MAN DAYS MAINTAINING APIARY 1,00,000 MAN DAYS COLONY MULTIPLICATION 6,400 MAN DAYS PROCESSING & PACKAGING
___________ (HONEY AND BEE WAX) 4,62,900 MAN DAYS MEANS FULTIME JOB FOR 1,543 PERSONS THROUGHOUT YEAR
If under National Commission for Agriculture aimed to establish six million bee colonies in the country, this would engage 9,25,600 persons throughout the year
Gatoria et.al.,1998
• Mishra (2000) demonstrated economic modeling with profitability with 10,50 and 100 bee colony apiaries. He estimated cost of honey production to be Rs./- 4.50, 25.25 and 14.60 per kg.(later two units as migratory bee keeping). If we consider 35 Rs. As the minimum rate of honey, the net profit from 100 bee colony unit after first year was estimated Rs. 81,600 per annum.
Table 6. Estimated annual contribution of bee keeping towards economy of the Punjab(2001-02)
COMMODITY MONETORY CONTRIBUTION (Rs.in million)
Sale of honey 200
Sale of colony 250
Sale of equipments 50
Estimated pollination benefits
2000
Total 2500
Gatoria et. al.,2002
Table 7. Economics of bee keeping:Particulars Rate 5 colonies 10 colonies 100 colonies
Rq. Qunty.
cost Rq. Qunty
cost Rq. Qunty
cost
Bee hive with stand and bowl
780(700+60+20) 5 3900 10 7800 100 78000
Bee colony 125/frame 20 2500 40 5000 400 50000
Honey extractor 1000,800,
500 for 4,3,2 frame
1 500 1 600 1 1000
Queen excluder 60 5 300 10 600 100 6000
Smoker 125 1 125 1 125 3 375
Bee veil 40 1 40 1 40 4 160
Hive tool 15 1 15 1 15 4 60
Hand gloves 25 1 25 1 25 4 100
Knife 25 1 25 1 25 3 75
Honey Container 16 3 48 6 96 60 960
Total 7,578 14326 136730
Particulars Rate
(Rs.)
5 colonies 10 colonies 100 colonies
Rq. Qunty
cost Rq. Qunty
cost Rq. Qunty
cost
Labour charge 60/day 20 1200 35 2100 300 18000
Wax foundation 130/Kg 2.5 325 5 650 50 6500
Jute mat 3/ mt. 5 15 10 30 100 300
Transportation Migratory
10/hive 5 50 10 100 100 1000
Sulphur (100gm) 40/Kg. 0.5 20 1 40 10 400
Sugar( 2kg) 14/Kg. 10 140 20 280 200 2800
Interest (12%) Half year
122.50 224 2030
Total 1872 3424 31030
Interest on investment
14% 1060.92 20005.64 19,142.20
Depreciation charges
10% 507.8 932.6 8673.00
Land rent 0.23/sq.ft 175 40.25 350 80.50 3500 8050
Total 1608.97 3018.74 28620
Overall total 3841.47 6442.74 59650.20
Particulars Rate 5 colonies 10 colonies 100 colonies
Production
Income Production
Income Production
Income
Honey
(35kg/hive)
35/ Kg.
175 Kg
6125 350 Kgs.
12550 3500 12,25,00
Wax (750gm/ Colony)
95/ Kg.
3.75 Kg.
356.25 7.5 Kg. 712.50 75 kg 7125
Sale of colony
125/ frame
20 2500 40 5000 400 50,000
Total income 8981.25 17962.50 179625
Net profit 5499.78 11519.76 119974.80
Annual income:
Soni,2000
Table 8. Honey potential of major nectar secreting plants
Sr. No.
Plant species Honey potential ( Kg/ha)
1. Trifolium alexandrium 54.135
2. Gossypium hirsutum 8.357
3. Gossypium arborium 3.171
4. Cajanus cajan 13.875
5. Helianthus annus 29.898
6. Eucalyptus spp. 13.167/tree
7. Brassica napus 35.236
8. Brassica juncea 27.515
9. Brassica campestris var toria 12.467
10. Prunus persica 6.482
11. Pyrus communis 3.938
12. Citrus reticulata 3.951
13. Citrus sinensis 3.642
Baljindersingh,2003
Table 7. Potential of Apis mellifera with 2 lakh colonies
Honey 3600 tonnes
Bee wax 72 tonnes
Queen bees 2 millions
Pollen 200 tonnes
Propalis 55 tonnes
Royal jelly 3 tonnes
Bee venom 9 kg.
Gatoria et. al.,2003
HONEY BEE PRODUCTS
Honey:
Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by honey bees from the nectar of blossoms or secretion of other parts of plants which honey bee collect, convert in to honey and store in wax comb to ripen
Table 9. Honey production from different bee species
Apis cerena 8 to 10 kg / colony
Apis mellifera 10-15 kg / colonyUp to 40 kg in migratory bee keeping
Apis dorsata 10-25 kg / colony
Apis florea 500g to 2 kg/ colony
Wakhle, 1998
Bees Wax:It is a true wax secreted by four pairs of wax glands on ventral sides of the abdomen of the worker bee of about two weeks of age.
To produce one kg of wax average 8.40 kg of honey is consumed by bees.
Uses of bees wax :
In cosmetic & pharmaceutical industries:
Lotions, creams, lipstick, ointment, polish, warnish etc.
Industrial application of bees wax include dentistry, electronic and mechanical moulds
Bees pollen:Uses of pollen:
Plant breeding programme
Fruit pollination
Studying and treating allergic conditions such as hay fever
Producing pollen supplement for feeding to the bees
Feeding human being and domestic animals alone or with honey or royal jelly
n curing hypertension, normalize the activity of intestine, improving appetite, curing anemia, pollen of date palm useful in curing sterility.
PROPOLIS:It is a sticky, gummy, resinous material gathered by bees from trees and other vegetation either from bud or a bark.
Only Apis mellifera collects propolis Apis cerena do not collect it.
A special plates with holes are used, the worker try to seal those holes and fill the trays with propolis.
A special plastic net are placed at the top in place of inner cover.
Uses :
It has antimicrobial activity
Effective in healing wounds
Good anesthetic in dental medicine
Good veterinary medicine
Royal jelly:
It is a milky white secretion produced from hypogeal gland of young worker bee .
It is fed to the queen through out her grub and adult life and also to the grub of worker and drone.
A single queen cell of Apis mellifera produces250-300 mg of royal jelly
It has reputation of being panacea( Ramban ilaj), aphrodisiacs and rejuvenator.
It is a tonic, restoring energy, getting rid of the feelings of in deposition and improper appetite.
It is useful in treating disorders of cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract
ROYAL JELLYPRODUCTION
ROYAL JELLYPRODUCTION
Bee venom collecting instrument
BEE VENOM:
The venom is stored in the poison sac
A bee can produce 0.3 mg of bee venom
Bee venom is useful for the desensitization of hypersensitive individuals
Useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, disease of iris, reducing blood pressure by lowering the level of cholesterol and deposition in blood vessels
ROLE IN POLLINATION
HIVE BEES ARE BETTER AGENTS FOR POLLINATION BECAUSE:
Manageable in any number, season and at any place
Show behaviour of floral fedality/constancy Purposely collect pollen for the brood and
adult bees. Body is profusely hairy thereby collecting
higher pollen load than other pollinators do. Pollen collected by bees also utilized for
pollination of crop. Because of being active foragers, the hive
bees can also be utilized as pollen dispenser for increased crop pollination.
Table 11. CROPS KNOWN TO REQUIRE AND/OR ARE BENEFITED FROM INSECT POLLINATION
FRUIT CROPS SEED CROPS
FOR FOOD, OIL & FIBRE
FOR PROPAGATION
ALMOND MANGO
APPLE MUSKMELON
APRICOT NECTARINE
AVOCADO PAPAYA
BLACKBERRY OKRA
CHERRY PEACH
CRANBERRY PEAR
CUCUMBER PEPPER
DEWBERRY PLUM
EGG PLANT PUMPKINS
GRAPE SQUASH
GUAVA STRAWBERRY
LOQUAT WATERMELON
BEANS(HORSE)
BEANS(LIMAS)
BUCKWHEAT
CELERY
COTTON
FLAX
MUSTARD
RAPE
RAI
SUNFLOWER
TORIA
ALFA ALFA
ASPARAGUS
BRUSSELS- SPROUT
CABBAGECAULIFLOWER
CELERY
CLOVERS
COLLARD
COTTON
CORIENDER
CUCUMBER
EGG PLANT
ONION
OKRA
PEPPER
PUMPKIN
RADISH
RAPE
RUTABAGA
SQUASH
SUNFLOWER
SWEET-CLOVER
TREFOIL
TURNIP
VETCHES
WATER-MELON
Kumar et. al.,1998
Table 12. INCREASE IN YEILD(%) BY BEE POLLINATION OVER SELF POLLINATION
ORCHARD CROPSAPPLEPEARSPLUMSCHERRYRASPBERRYLITCHICITRUSORANGESTRAWBERRYGUAVA
LEGUME SEEDS
ALFA ALFABERSEEM & OTHERSCLOVERSBROAD BEANSKIDNEY BEANSRUNNER BEANS
180-6950240-60147-273956-1000191-4634538-1024621-411471-90038-6870-140
23-1973323-33
1507-90500-60021-1100
VEGETABLESASPARAGUSCABBAGECARROTONIONRADISHTURNIPOILSEEDSBROWN MUSTARDLINSEEDRAIRAPESUNFLOWERTORIAWHITE MUSTARDMISCELIANEOUS CROPS
BUCK WHEATCOFFEE EGYPTIAN COTTONFENNELNIGER
12405100-3009-135354-987822-100100-125
13-2222-401812-13972-8266-220128-152
6317-8316-2410024-173
Kumar et.al., 1998
Table 13. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF HONEYBEE COLONIES FOR PROPER/OPTIMUM POLLINATION OF IMPORTANT CROPS IN INIDA
CROP POLLINATION REQUIREMENT NO. OF BEE COLONIES NEEDED/HA
TOTAL AREA UNDER CULTIVATION (HA)
ESTIMATED TOTAL NO. OF BEE COLONIES NEEDED
ALMOND HIGHLY CROSS POLLINATED 5-8 17759 1,15,433
APPLE HIGHLY CROSS POLLINATED 2-3 17305 4,10,101
CITRUS OFTEN CROSS POLLINATED 2-3 382820 9,57,050
COCONUT POLLEN TRANSFER ESSENTIAL
2-3 1510000 37,75,000
GRAPE OFTEN CROSS POLLINATED 2-3 15389 38,473
GUAVA CROSS POLLINATED 2-3 176853 4,42,133
MANGO BEE VISITS HELPFUL IN POLLINATION
2-3 123913 30,82,283
PAPAYA POLLEN TRANSFER ESSENTIAL
2-3 32000 80,000
MUSTARD/RAPE
MOSTLY CROSS POLLINATED 3-5 5720000 2,28,80,000
SESAMUM OFTEN CROSS POLLINATED 2-3 2433000 60,82,500
SUNFLOWER CROSS POLLINATED 2-4 209600 62,90,700
COTTON OFTEN CROSS POLLINATED 2-6 74000000 2,96,00,000
Goyal and Gupta, 1994
Table 14. Effect of different pollination treatments on yield of Nephelium litchi in Dehradun
Treatments Av.No. of fruits/inflorescence
Av.fruits weight/inflorescence(g)
Av.fruits weight(g)
Av. Size of fruits
Pollination without insects
1.4 15.9 11.5 2.5
Open Pollin.% increase over PWI
14.9
964.3
237.5
1313.7
16.0
39.1
3.1
Bee pollin.% increase over PWI
8.9
535.7
128.7
709.4
14.5
26.0
3.0
Kumar et. al.,1996Field obsv. Station of CBR & TI Mohkampur,Dehradun
Table 15. Effect of different pollination treatments on the yield characters of litchi (cultivar Shahi)
Treatments Av. no. Of fruits/inflo.
Av. Total fruit weight/inflo
Av. Fruit weight
Apis cerana pollinated
11.05 189.09 17.12
Open pollinated(unbagged)
8.45 99.77 11.80
Pollination without insects
4.41 38.64 8.76
Rao, et al.,1984Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Table 16. Effect of different pollination treatments on the yield of Sesamum and Niger
Treatments Sesamum Niger
Av. Yield in Kg/plot
% increase over PWI
Av. Yield in Kg/plot
% increase over PWI
Bee pollination Bp
2.550 59.3 1.200 33.3
Open Pollination OP
2.400 50.0 1.100 22.2
Pollination without insects PWI
1.600 __ 0.900 __
Panda, et.al.1988Central Farm Orrisa,Univ. of Agri. & Technology , Bhubaneswar
Table 17.Effect of insect pollination on cauliflower seed crop
Treatments Av. Yield gm/plot
Av. Weight 1000seeds
Av.no of seed/pod
Av. Seed set(%)
Av. Germination %
Caged with bees
14.50 2.36 16.13 71.49 92.50
UncagedOP
22.60 3.73 17.35 77.55 96.66
Caged without insects
5.61 1.34 8.83 24.49 26.60
C.D.at 5% 2.81 1.61 0.86 1.99 1.99
Kakkar and Sharma,1991Vegetable Res. Station Bairty, Solan
CONSRAINTS IN BEEKEEPING :
LACK OF EDUCATION AND PROVERTY IS THE MAJOR HINDERANCE IN DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF BEEKEEPING IN INDIA
THE NUMBER OF BEE COLONIES AND COLONIES PER BEEKEEPER IS VERY SMALL
NON-ADOPTION OF MODERN BEE KEEPING TECHNOLOGIES BY BEE KEEPERS
PROPER SELECTION OF SPECIES AVAILIBILITY OF BEE COLONIES IN SUFFICIENT
NUMBERS NON AVAILIBILITY OF AREA SPECIFIC BEE
MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES DEPLETION IN BEE FLORA AND NON AVAILIBILITY OF
REGION-WISE FLORAL CALENDER NON AVAILIBILITY OF MODERN BEE KEEPING
EQUIPMENTS POOR QUALITY OF HONEY
LACK OF STOCK IMPROVEMENT AND PEDIGREE QUEEN BEE BREEDING
LACK OF DIVERSIFICATION FOR OTHER BEE PRODUCTS HUMAN RESOURSE DEVELOPMENT: LACK OF
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTIZE EVEN AMONG THE SCIENTISTS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LIKE INSTUMEENTAL INSEMINATION AND AT DOMESTIC LEVEL ALSO HRD FOR AUGMENTING THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIZE.
MARKETING OF HONEY : PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION IS 8.4 GMS HONEY PER ANNUM IN INDIA IN COMPARISION TO 1.5 KG IN EUROPE
PROBLEM FACED DURING MIGRATION IN MIGRATORY BEE KEEPING BY BEE KEEPERS
PESTICIDAL POISONING BEE DISEASES AND BEE ENEMIES
Table 18.Estimated losses in honeybee, bee products and pollination due to use of pesticide in U.S.A.
Loss in Monitory loss (Million $ /year)
Colony losses from pesticides
13.3
Honey bee wax losses 25.3
Loss of potential honey production
27.0
Rental loss for pollination 4.0
Pollination losses 200.0
Total 319.6
Oka,1995
Table 19.Occurrence of bee diseases in India (brood diseases)
Disease Causative agent
symptoms Bee species affecte
d
Year of
report
Locations
Brood diseases
American foul brood
Bacillus larvae Dull white brood, ropy symptom
A. Cerena 1961 Nainital U.P.
European foul brood
Melissococcus pluton
Dull white dead brood turning yellow to dark brown
A. Cerena
A. mellifera
1971-74
19981999
MahabaleshwerCastlerock(Kar)H.P.Punjab
Thai sac brood virus disease
Virus Morator aetatulus (Thai strain)
Scattered cell with punctures capping often with two holes
A. Cerena
A. mellifera
1978
1979-861991-92
Northern hill regionShilongSouth India
Sac brood Virus Morator aetatulus
---Do--- A. mellifera 20002001
H.P.Punjab
Chalk brood Ascopharea apis Brood become hard chalk like.
A. mellifera 2001 Punjab
Abrol, 1998
Table 20. Occurrence of bee diseases in India (adult bees)
Disease Causative
agent
symptoms Bee species affected
Year of
report
Locations
Adult diseases
Clustering disease
Iridescent bee virus
Bees leave comb and form cluster on the wall of hive or outside hive , become sluggish , queen stop egg laying
A. cerena Mid 1950s
J.&K,H.P. Punjab Maharastra
Nosema disease
ProtozoaNosema apis
Shining swollen abdomen
A. cerena
A. mellifera
1974-751994
Jeolikote
Assam
Abrol, 1998
American foul brood disease
European fowl brood disease
CHALKBROOD INFECTED BROOD
Chalk brood ‘mummies’ on hive floor
Table 21. Mites associated with honey bees
Mite Hosts (Apis)Mode of
livingHabitat
Acarapis woodi A. melliferaA. cerena
Endoparasite Trachea of adult bee
Acarapis dorsalis A. mellifera External Thorax region of adult bee
Acarapis externus A. mellifera External Neck region of adult bee
Varroa jacobsoni A. melliferaA. cerena
Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
Varroa underwoodi
A. cerena Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
Euvarroa sinhai A .florea Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
Tropilaelaps clareae
A. mellifera, A. dorsata,A. cerena A. laboriosaA. florea
Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
T. koenigerum A. dorsata A. laboriosa
Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
Pyemotes herfsi A. cerena Ectoparasite Brood cell, adult bee
Neocypholaelaps indica
A. cerena Phoretic Ault bee, pollen storage cellsGarg and Kasyap,1998
Honey bee mite Varroa jacobsoni
Table 22.Enemies of honey bee in India
Common name
Scientific name class Order status
Wax moth G. mellonella, A. grisella Insecta Lepidoptera Major
Wasps V. mendarina, V. tropiaca, V. orientalis, V. veluntina, V. basalis
Insecta Hymenoptera Major
Assassin bug Acanthaspis siva Insecta Himiptera Minor
Praying mantis
Odontomantis micans Insecta Dictyoptera Minor
Beetles Protaetia sp., Anomala sp. Insecta Coleoptera Minor
Black ants Componotum sp. Dorylus sp. Etc.
Insecta Hymenoptera Major
Spiders Nuphilia sp. Arachnida Araneida Minor
Birds Merops orientalis Aves Major
M. apiaster, cypselus spp., Apus spp., Dicrurus sp. Lanius sp., Picus sp. And Honey guides
Aves Minor
Frogs and toads
Rana tigrina, Bufo sp. Amphibia Anura Minor
Lizard & snake
Calotes sp., Hemidactylus sp. Reptilia Squamata Minor
Bears and pine martins Mammalia Carnivora Minor
Garg and Kashyap,1998
Wax moth
Future thrust areas/ strategies for balanced growth of apiculture
Apiculture should be consider as a special discipline at the national level for generating know how and setting up of National bee board and all activities like Research, training, Extension and marketing should be brought under one umbrella.
Diversification of bee keeping for producing other bee products and appropriate market for these products should also be worked out.
Bee keeping with appropriate bee species should be taken up according to local floral and agro climatic conditions and with available technical know-how.
Selection and breeding of queens of high yielding races for increasing honey production should be given priority.
Bee keeping should be advertised as recreation and employment generating activity. Maintenance and conservation of all bee species and their value as pollinators should be assessed.
Change in cropping pattern or mass production of bee flora should be undertaken on waste lands, roadsides, and along the railway tract to make bee keeping a profitable venture.
Co-operative societies should be formed for processing and sale of honey.
Loan and subsidies to be given to bee keepers to purchase bee keepind equipment and bee colonies.
Conclusion: Development of bee keeping in India
has great scope as apart from direct benefits from bee products, bee keeping is an employment generating, fits well in diversification of agriculture, helps in increasing crop yields through bee pollination and also proved to be boon for uplift of rural masses without any competition for input resources. Both Apis cerena and Apis mellifera can be utilized for bee keeping in the country. However, in areas having plenty of bee flora A. mellifera can be taken advantage.