Apis Dorsata Research Articles

Socio-economic Dimensions of Forest Honey (Bees dorsata) Business Development in Hiay Wetar Village, Southwest Maluku

This research aims to 1) Understand the socio-economic characteristics of the community in developing the forest honey business - Apis dorsata bees. 2) Analyze the level of income from the forest honey business - Apis dorsata bees by the community in Hiay-Wetar village, Southwest Maluku. The research was conducted in Hiay Wetar village, Southwest Maluku in January-February 2024 using a purposive sampling method with 25 families as respondents. Primary and secondary data were taken through direct observation and interviews with respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using a quantitative and descriptive qualitative approach. The research results show that the social characteristics of the community greatly influence the respondents' activities in collecting/harvesting forest honey, namely age, education level, experience in collecting forest honey, number of family dependents, and income. Collecting honey bee hives starts with marking the tree, harvesting and packaging the honey is still done using simple production equipment and traditional techniques based on local knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation. The collection of forest honey by the people of Hiay Wetar village is called "cut wani "which means cut honey" and air wani which means honey bee water. In a year there are two honey harvests (cut wani), namely in April – June and October – December with a total production of 1500 liters per year and total sales of IDR 180,000,000/year. Net income of IDR 169,915,000.00 and R/C return ratio analysis of the honey business has a decent ratio with flat R/C = IDR 18.03. Keywords: economy, Apis dorsata bees, income, social, forest honey

Impact of environmental factors on Apis dorsata (Giant Asian Honeybee) venom in Bandarawela, Sri Lanka

Apis dorsata stings are amongst the most frequent insect-stings in Sri Lanka. A. dorsata venom consists of a mixture of components including PLA2, melittin, hyaluronidase and apamin. However, there are no studies done in Sri Lanka to evaluate the environmental influence in venom production. We, herein, tried to correlate the variations in those four venom components of A. dorsata with environmental factors (temperature, rainfall, wind speed and relative humidity). The venom components were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and variations in environmental factors were gathered from the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka. Of the four components, PLA2 (r = 0.718; p = 0.009 and r = 0.636; p = 0.026) and melittin r = 0.734; p = 0.007 and r = 0.582; p = 0.047) showed significant correlations with temperature and wind speed, respectively. Whilst relative humidity showed significant negative correlations with PLA2 (r = - 0.634; p = 0.027) and melittin (r = -0.643; p = 0.024). There was no significant correlation of climatic parameters with hyaluronidase or apamin. The results indicated a variation in the composition of venom components with the month in which the venom was collected due to climatic influence and it should be considered when therapeutic grade venom preparations are produced.

Apis dorsata F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colony residency: duration and seasonality in Northern Thailand

Apis dorsata F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colony residency: duration and seasonality in Northern Thailand

Foraging behaviour and pollinator dynamics in lucerne crop of the Bundelkhand region: Implications for crop management in the subtropics

Abstract Pollination stands out as the paramount ecosystem service facilitated by insect pollinators, providing benefits to over three quarters of the world’s major crops. The conservation and effective management of honeybees constitute integral components for ensuring the sustainable productivity of cross-pollinated crops. The present study aimed to document the potential pollinators of lucerne in the Bundelkhand region in India, which is known for its subtropical climatic conditions. Further, the foraging behaviour, including foraging rate and speed, was meticulously documented. A total of 13 insect species from seven families across three insect orders were observed visiting lucerne flowers. Hymenopterans comprised the majority of the floral visitors (73.48%), followed by Lepidoptera (26.51%) during the study period. Among them, Apis dorsata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) emerged as the most predominant floral visitor, exhibiting peak activity at 12:00 h with a density of 7.85 bees/m2/10 min. Surprisingly, among the major floral visitors, A. florea has the highest mean foraging rate (number of flowers visited/minute/forager), i.e., 11.56, 11.59 and 10.79 bees/flowers/minute during the initial flowering stage, peak flowering stage and late flowering stage, respectively. However, the foraging speed (time spent by the forager on each flower) was longest in A. dorsata, i.e., 5.05, 3.78 and 5.41 s/flower during initial, peak and late flowering stages, respectively. The findings emphasize the importance of enhancing honeybee activity to boost lucerne seed yield. Further, the outcomes of the study can be leveraged to optimize honeybee colony management, scheduling field operations such as pesticide application and weeding during periods of minimal honeybee activity.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern analysis of Sirtuin family genes in the eastern honeybee, Apis cerana

Sirtuin proteins are a family of evolutionarily conserved NAD+-dependent deacetylase enzymes which play crucial roles in regulating insect metabolism, maintaining genome stability, and lifespan. However, there is no report on the genome-wide analysis of the Sirtuin gene family in the eastern honeybee, Apis cerana. Here, 6 Sirtuin genes (AcSirt1, AcSirt2, AcSirt4 ~ AcSirt7) were obtained in the A. cerana genome, which were located on 6 different chromosomes and were all single-copy genes. Gene structure analysis revealed that these 6 genes were all multi-exon genes. The Sirtuin family genes contained 9 conserved motifs and 5 conserved domains, which exhibited typical Sirtuin protein structural characteristics. The phylogenetic analysis of the Sirtuin family genes indicates that A. cerana lacked the Sirt3 gene, and the 6 Sirtuin encoding genes could be clustered into 5 groups and 6 branches, showing high homology with the Apis mellifera and the Apis dorsata. The results of the tissue and period expression profiles by qRT-PCR indicated that the 6 Sirtuin family genes showed transcriptional activity in different tissues of worker bees, and the gene expression level reached the peak in the 4-day-old larvae and pupa stages. It was speculated that Sirtuin genes expression level was affected by fasting behavior, caloric restriction and organ differentiation during different developmental stages of A. cerana. Meanwhile, the differential expression patterns of Sirtuin genes in various tissues further demonstrated the diversity and complexity of their functions, providing a basis for target selection in future studies on the functionality of Sirtuin genes.

Summer Pollen Sources to Apis Dorsata Honeybees Collected from Bhadrawati Tahsil Forest Area of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra State (India)

Summer Pollen Sources to Apis Dorsata Honeybees Collected from Bhadrawati Tahsil Forest Area of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra State (India)

Efficacy of botanicals against red pumpkin beetle and their impact on pollinator diversity in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivation

This study aimed to assess insect pollinator diversity in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and evaluate the bio-efficacy of botanicals for pest management while considering their impact on pollinators. Seven pollinator species were identified, with Hymenopterans, particularly honey bees, dominating. Apis dorsata (67.40%) was the most common pollinator, followed by Apis florea (14.28%). Other pollinators included species from Halictidae, Sphecidae, Syrphidae, and Pieridae families. Among the botanicals tested, Azadirachtin seed kernel extract (5%) and leaf extract (10%) effectively managed the red pumpkin beetle (Raphidopalpa foveicollis) with minimal harm to pollinators. Post-application, pollinator activity slightly increased after three to five days. The study highlights the effectiveness of neem-based botanicals in reducing pest populations while conserving pollinators, emphasizing the value of eco-friendly pest control in promoting sustainable pumpkin farming, improving both yield and crop quality.

Assessing Queen Cell Cups Priming from Combs of Different Honey Bee Species for Mass Rearing of Apis mellifera L. Queen Bee

Experiments were carried out at the Beekeeping-cum-Honey Production Unit, Department of Entomology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India, during 2020-21. The study was aimed to evaluate queen cell cups prepared from combs of different bee species to find out a suitable technique for royal jelly production through mass queen bee rearing of Apis mellifera species. The worker bees of Apis mellifera (AM) exhibited a low preference for working with combs produced by Apis dorsata (AD) and Apis cerana (AC) for queen cell construction amongst evaluated combs. In contrast, when queen cell cups were made using AM combs, the worker bees attempted to build 100% of the cells. The time required by AM worker bees to complete queen cell construction on AM combs ranged from 7 to 15 days, however, they took 1.20 and 0.98 times longer to complete cells made with AD and AC combs, respectively. Similarly, queen bees showed reluctance to lay eggs in cells built on AD and AC combs. In queen cells constructed on AM combs, the queen bee began laying eggs on the second day after release into the nucleus hive and continued for five days, with an increasing trend in egg-laying activity. Among the different batches of eggs laid, the third batch was the most successful in respect of the larval growth and development. Additionally, larval growth showed a consistent upward trend during the first three days of observation for each laying batch. A. mellifera combs have been found to be more favourable for queen cell construction by worker bees, showing a strong preference for the queen's egg-laying performance, as well as optimal larval growth and development. Based on these findings, it is recommended that beekeepers may adopt this method to promote mass queen bee rearing and enhance royal jelly production.

Seasonal Occurrence of Honey Bees in Coriander

A multi-location trail was carried out at the Beekeeping Unit, TCA, Dholi (Muzaffarpur District, India) and University Apiary, RPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur District, India) during Rabi 2021-22 on Rajendra Dhania-2 variety of coriander. Spatial distribution of bee species in Pusa and Dholi showed that occurance of Italian bee Apis mellifera (F) was comparatively higher at Pusa (19.03± 6.29/ m2 / 10 min) as compared to Dholi (16.56± 5.47/ m2 / 10 min). Other species of honey bees viz. Indian hive bee, Apis cerana (F), rock bee Apis dorsata (F) and little bee Apis florea (F) were more abundant in Dholi as compared to Pusa. Maximum (number of bee/ m2 / 10 min) of Apis mellifera (24.02, 27.60), Apis dorsata (16.88, 14.89), Apis cerana (14.55, 11.64) and Apis florea (10.47, 8.63) were observed at 13:00, 15:00, 11:00 and 09:00 at Dholi and Pusa, respectively. The underlying factors of this distribution were identified as body size and dietary overlap. This study highlights the complexity of interactions between Apis spp. genus and shows how factors like body size and diet influence their distribution patterns.

Tree Species as Forage for Apis dorsata Binghamii and Impact on Tree Health in Mangolo Nature Tourism Area, Indonesia

Tree Species as Forage for Apis dorsata Binghamii and Impact on Tree Health in Mangolo Nature Tourism Area, Indonesia

Pollination efficiency of important insect visitors on pomegranate (Punica granatum) under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Insect pollinators are found to be highly significant in enhancing the quality fruit production and productivity. The experiment was conducted during April–May 2020 and 2021 at Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to determine the pollination indices of significant insect pollinators visiting pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). The data on pooled basis from two years revealed that Bombus haemorrhoidalis visited most number of flowers during the day (4.96 flowers/min) followed by Apis mellifera (4.24), Apis cerana (3.95), Apis dorsata (3.76) and Episyrphus balteatus (3.09). The time spent on each flower was maximum by A. cerana (17.10 sec/flower) followed by E. balteatus (17.04 sec), A. dorsata (14.20 sec), A. mellifera (13.07 sec) and haemorrhoidalis (5.36 sec) irrespective of different day hours. A. mellifera (5.43 bees/m2/2 min) activity was maximum followed by A. cerana (5.06), E. balteatus (2.91 visitors/m2/2 min), B. haemorrhoidalis (1.72) and A. dorsata (1.37). Data on loose pollen grains for the two years revealed that A. dorsata adhered maximum number of loose pollen grains (357.00 thousand) followed by B. haemorrhoidalis (283.00 thousand), A. mellifera (98.00 thousand), cerana (41.00 thousand) and solitary bees (28.00 thousand). A. mellifera scored highest pollination index and A. dorsata scored least pollination index. A. mellifera, A. cerana and B. haemorrhoidalis are the primary pollinators that increase pomegranate pollination efficiency whereas A. dorsata, E. baltaeatus and solitary bees are supplementary insects improving pollination in various crops including pomegranate. A. mellifera, A. cerana, B. haemorrhoidalis and A. dorsata were main foragers of pomegranate flowers ensuring effective and efficient pollination.

Solitary Bees Are More Efficient Pollinators of Sponge Gourd than Giant honeybees and Syrphid Flies

Solitary Bees Are More Efficient Pollinators of Sponge Gourd than Giant honeybees and Syrphid Flies

Taxonomic revision and identification keys for the giant honey bees

Taxonomic revision and identification keys for the giant honey bees

The distribution of Apis laboriosa revisited: range extensions, biogeographic affinities, and species distribution modelling

IntroductionApis laboriosa, the Himalayan giant honeybee, inhabits the foothills of Himalaya and neighboring mountainous regions. Here we revise its distribution in light of recent reports and discoveries, review the ecozones it inhabits, and reassess its likely distribution through species distribution modeling.MethodsWe revised the range map for A. laboriosa by mapping locality records from various sources: refereed research publications, museum specimens, records with identifiable images of bees in publicly available databases, personal observations of the authors, and photos/videos and their coordinates submitted to the authors by honey-hunters, beekeepers, and extension workers. We then used that map to determine the ecozones in which the species occurs. The geographical coordinates of the data localities were used to estimate the potential suitable areas for the bee with MaxEnt modeling.ResultsOur research filled in several previously identified gaps in the distribution of A. laboriosa: in western Nepal; mountainous regions of Myanmar, northwestern Thailand, and northern Laos; several river valleys in Xizang and Yunnan, China; and northeastern Pakistan. Over most of its range this bee species primarily occupies subtropical broadleaf forests with strong Himalayan affinities. However, in the western part of its range it extends into zones dominated by conifers. The sites where A. laboriosa has been recorded closely match the predicted range of the species. Two variables, mean temperature of the coldest quarter and temperature seasonality, contributed most (76%) to the species distribution model.DiscussionApis laboriosa has a more extensive distribution in the foothills of the Himalaya and neighboring mountainous regions than has been previously recognized. The range now extends from longitude 74.4°–105.9°E, a linear distance of 3300 km, and from latitude 19.2°N–34.8°N. We have documented nesting on tree branches in northern Vietnam. Future research is warranted on its elevational migrations along river valleys, population differentiation, and ecological role as a pollinator in the different ecological zones it inhabits.

Study on the Effect of Bee Attractants on the Giant Honey Bee, Apis dorsata and their Effect on Niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass] Seed Yield

Study on the Effect of Bee Attractants on the Giant Honey Bee, Apis dorsata and their Effect on Niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass] Seed Yield

Physicochemical and Sensory Attributes of Trihoney Blend (Trigona sp., Apis mellifera, and Apis dorsata) for Enhanced Antioxidant Optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

INTRODUCTION: The therapeutic applications of honey products have been extensively studied, but the various combination of honeys as a high-antioxidant product has not been explored. This study aimed to develop an optimized three honey formulation (Trihoney) with maximal antioxidant potency and physicochemical characteristics, as well as favourable among panellists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The three types of honey studied are; i) Trigona sp. honey (TH), ii) Apis mellifera honey (MH), and iii) Apis dorsata honey (DH). Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to design optimal Trihoney formulation for i) total phenolic content (TPC), ii) ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and iii) 2,2’-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Proximate and nutrient analyses, such as moisture, protein, fibre, carbohydrate, sugar, and gross energy were also conducted. Additionally, sensory evaluation was carried out to support the findings. RESULTS: Based on RSM, three optimal Trihoney formulation were developed; i) Trihoney 1 (MH15:DH10:TH45), ii) Trihoney 2 (MH15:DH10:TH25), and iii) Trihoney 3 (MH15:DH10:TH15). Trihoney 1 was the most promising formulation, exhibiting the highest TPC (0.50 mg/GAE/g), remarkable values of FRAP (230.85 AAE/g) and DPPH (86.32%). Physicochemical and sugar analysis indicated that all values complied with permitted quality standards. MH received the highest overall acceptability scores based on sensory evaluation. CONCLUSION: These findings warrant further extensive investigation of Trihoney formulation in animal studies to support its efficacy as a valuable food supplement.

Etnobotani Tikung Masyarakat Melayu Dusun Batu Rawan Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu dalam Budidaya Madu Secara Tradisional

Wild Honey is produced directly from the hives of Apis dorsata bees or wild bees that live in forest areas. Wild Honey is produced through traditional methods that utilize plants and are not livestock. Plants that are utilized in the form of plant wood as artificial nests called tikung and flowers from bee food trees. The purpose of this study was to determine the types of plants as tikung wood and bee food trees and document the knowledge of traditional honey farmers about the ethnoecology of Batu Rawan Hamlet, Kapuas Hulu Regency. This study used purposive sampling method in determining respondents and 15 respondents were obtained, then continued with semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted with citation frequency. The results showed that there were 5 species of tikung wood and 15 species of bee food trees belonging to 12 families. Fagraea fragrans, Shorea belangaran, Litsea resinosa, Gluta renghas, Shorea sp., are plant species used as tikung wood trees, the dominant species reported by respondents is Litsea resinosa which is 93.3%. Mesua hexapetala, Syzygium claviflorum, Barringtonia acutangula, Ternstroemia sp., Carallia brachiata, Teysmanniodendron sarawakanum, Syzygium sp., Gomphia serrata, Eugenia sp., Syzygium inophyllum, Timonius flavescens, Ixora mentangis, Syzygium attenuatum, Memecylon edule, Crudia teysmannii are plant species used as bee fodder trees, bee fodder tree species reported dominantly by respondents are Barringtonia acutangula species which is 100%.

Phylogeography of the giant honey bees based on mitochondrial gene sequences

Our goal was to resolve phylogenetic relationships among Apis laboriosa, and the Apis dorsata subspecies A. d. dorsata, A. d. binghami, and A. d. breviligula, the last two of which have been proposed as full species by several authors. We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of the giant honey bees using mitochondrial cox1 and cox2 gene sequences analyzed with maximum likelihood methods. We obtained strong support for four clades within A. dorsata in the broad sense: the three subspecies or species mentioned above, and a fourth lineage from south India. However, our analysis did not resolve the phylogenetic relationships among the four lineages. The presence of two genetically distinguishable groups of “A. dorsata” in India parallels the presence there of two cavity-nesting honey bees, A. cerana cerana and A. c. indica (the black hill bees and yellow plains bees, respectively). This suggests that past climatic or geological events may have temporarily isolated Indian populations from populations of the Asian mainland, leading to divergence and possibly speciation of Indian giant and cavity-nesting bees, followed by recolonization of India by eastern Asian forms. Recognition of these distinct lineages is important for conservation planning, so that their individual distributions, ecologies, and migration patterns can be considered, and so that the genetic diversity they represent can be maintained.

The Effectiveness of the Α-Amylase Enzyme Inhibition by Several Traditional Medicinal Ingredients Black Turmeric, Aromatic Ginger, Black Cumin, Forest Bee Honey and Sweet Leaves in Ready to Drink Formulation

The inhibition of α-amylase enzymes can delay the remaining carbohydrates in the small intestine and reduce the travel of postprandial blood glucose, therefore the content of compounds in the form of tannins, flavonoids, saponins and terpen is believed to be able inhibit the α-amylase enzymes. Knowing the effectiveness of α-amylase enzyme inhibition by some traditional medicine ingredients (Curcuma caesia, Kaempferia galanga, Nigella sativa, Apis dorsata, and Stevia rebaudiana) and organoleptic properties of the ready to drink formulation. This study is an experimental study using the design "Pretest-Posttest with control Groug" on the sample in the form of liquid extracts. Plant liquid extract is tested for its inhibition of α-amylase and used as a formulation of herbal drink ready to drink. The result IC50 values of black turmeric extract (6.46 mg/ml), aromatic ginger (6.10 mg/ml), black cumin (7.36 mg/ml), forest bee honey (2.59 mg//ml) and sweet leaves (4,85 mg/ml). The results of IC50 formulations 1 (8.03 mg/ml) and 2 (14.18 mg/ml) and glibenclamide values are (2.53 mg/ml). Conclusion the effectiveness of α-amylase inhibition of sweet leaf extract is better than other extracts and formulation 1 is better than formulation 2.

Winter Pollen Sources to Giant Honeybees of Sindewahi Tehsil Forest area of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra State (India)

Winter Pollen Sources to Giant Honeybees of Sindewahi Tehsil Forest area of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra State (India)