Species of Honey Bees: we are familiar with different species and important of honey bees found in the worldwide and know their economic importance. There are four known species of true honeybees and they are found throughout India which belonging to genus Apis.
Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance
Honeybees are a type of bee that produces honey. They are social insects that live in colonies, which can consist of thousands of individuals. Honeybees are found all over the world, except for Antarctica. There are four recognized species of honeybees, which are all part of the genus Apis.
- Apis dorsata F. (Rock bee)
- Apis florea F. (Little bee)
- Apis cerana F. (Asian bee)
- Apis mellifera L. (European bee)
Honey Bees
Characteristics and economic importance honeybees:
Apis dorsata
- Open nesting, builds single large comb attached to branches of trees or rocks
- It is found in hilly area up to 1600 meters above sea level.
- It is migratory species.
- Biggest honey bee and measuring about 16-18mm. ‘Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance’
- It is wild bee and average honey yield per colony/year 40 kg
- Method of Honey extraction by squeezing
- Honey is a unhygienic
Apis florea
- Open nesting, builds single small comb fixed to branches of bushes.
- It is found in plains up to 300 meters above sea level.
- It is highly migratory.
- Smallest Apis bee measuring about 9-10mm
- It is wild bee and average yield up to 500 g
- Method of Honey extraction by squeezing
- Honey is a unhygienic
Apis cerana
- The cavity nesting, builds many parallel combs in cavities of tree trunks, hollows of
rocks, poles and other covered places - It is found throughout India having 3 subspecies
- Medium size and measurinh of about 14-15mm
- It is a hieve bee and average yield up to 5 kg
- Method of Honey extraction by centrifugal honey extractor from the hived bees
- Honey is hygienic. “Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance”
Apis mellifera
- Cavity nesting and similar in habits to Apis cerana and builds parallel combs.
- It is an Exotic bee to India, introduced successfully in 1962.
- It has many subspecies of about 23
- Medium size and measuring of about 14-16mm
- Average yield up to 15 kg Hive bees; can be domesticated
- Method of Honey extraction by centrifugal honey extractor from the hived bees
- Honey is hygienic “Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance”
Economic Importance of Honey Bees
Honey bees are one of the most important pollinators in the world. They pollinate over 80% of the world’s flowering plants, including many of the crops that we eat, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Honey bees are also responsible for producing honey, beeswax, and royal jelly, which are all valuable products. “Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance”
The economic value of honey bees is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. In the United States alone, honey bees are responsible for pollinating $235-$250 billion worth of crops each year.
Threats to Honey Bees
Honey bees are facing a number of threats, including:
- Habitat loss
- Pesticides
- Climate change
- Diseases and parasites
These threats are causing honey bee populations to decline worldwide. This decline is a major concern because it could have a serious impact on our food supply. “Species of Honey Bees and Economic Importance”
What Can We Do to Help Honey Bees?
There are a number of things that we can do to help honey bees, including:
- Planting bee-friendly flowers
- Avoiding the use of pesticides
- Supporting beekeepers
- Educating others about the importance of honey bees
By taking these actions, we can help to protect these important pollinators and ensure that they continue to play a vital role in our ecosystem.
