Capped Honey Moisture Content from Four Honey Bee Species; Apis dorsata F., Apis florea F., Apis cerana F, and Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Honey moisture content from beneath capped honey storage cells was examined for four species of honey bees in northern Thailand. Three species, Apis dorsata, A. florea, and A. cerana are indigenous to SE Asia, the fourth species, A. mellifera, is a recently introduced species. It is assumed that capped honey will possess the lowest moisture content attainable under tropical conditions. Average honey moisture content was as follows: A. dorsata 22.7%, A. florea 20.1%, A. cerana 21.2% and A. mellifera 18.8%. Capped honey storage cells for the indigenous honey bee species frequently exceed the moisture content standard set by regulatory agencies for A. mellifera honey in Europe. The introduced, temperately adapted A. mellifera is capable of lowering honey moisture to regulatory standards even in the environmental restraints of high ambient temperature and relative humidity of northern Thailand.