Honeybee Combs Research Articles

Honeybee comb-inspired stiffness gradient-amplified catapult for solid particle repellency.

Natural surfaces that repel foreign matter are ubiquitous and crucial for living organisms. Despite remarkable liquid repellency driven by surface energy in many organisms, repelling tiny solid particles from surfaces is rare. The main challenge lies in the unfavourable scaling of inertia versus adhesion in the microscale and the inability of solids to release surface energy. Here we report a previously unexplored solid repellency on a honeybee's comb: a catapult-like effect to immediately eject pollen after grooming dirty antennae for self-cleaning. Nanoindentation tests revealed the 38-μm-long comb features a stiffness gradient spanning nearly two orders of magnitude from ~25 MPa at the tip to ~645 MPa at the base. This significantly augments the elastic energy storage and accelerates the subsequent conversion into kinetic energy. The reinforcement in energy storage and conversion allows the particle's otherwise weak inertia to outweigh its adhesion, thereby suppressing the unfavourable scaling effect and realizing solid repellency that is impossible in conventional uniform designs. We capitalize on this to build an elastomeric bioinspired stiffness-gradient catapult and demonstrate its generality and practicality. Our findings advance the fundamental understanding of natural catapult phenomena with the potential to develop bioinspired stiffness-gradient materials, catapult-based actuators and robotic cleaners.

Role of ionizing radiation in the management of the Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella L.): a comparative analysis of different types of ionizing radiation

Galleria mellonella L., is an insect pest of the honey bee combs and causes huge economic losses worldwide. Its management heavily relies on the use of chemical pesticides. However, chemical pesticides have drawbacks, including the incidence of colony collapse disorder and the development of pesticide resistance. Ionizing radiation has the potential to treat infested bee combs without leaving chemical footprints, thereby increasing agricultural output in general and honey production in particular. In the current study, research on how the type, energy, and dose rate of ionizing radiation affect radiation-induced damage was done on the eggs and larvae of G. mellonella. It was observed that although larval mortality increases with electron beam energy, egg hatchability depends more on dose rate and less on the energy of gamma and x-ray radiation in the MeV range of energy. Additionally, a significant association between dose rate and larval mortality was seen. Doses of 179.40 Gy and 158.60 Gy, respectively, of 0.66 MeV gamma rays and 15 MeV electrons, were required to stop pupal development completely. Gamma radiation in the MeV range of energy was found to be the most suitable modality of all ionizing radiation.

Sub-cell scale features govern the placement of new cells by honeybees during comb construction

Honeybee comb architecture and the manner of its construction have long been the subject of scientific curiosity. Comb is characterised by an even hexagonal layout and the sharing of cell bases and side walls, which provides maximised storage volume while requiring minimal wax. The efficiency of this structure relies on a regular layout and the correct positioning of cells relative to each other, with each new cell placed at the junction of two previously constructed cells. This task is complicated by the incomplete nature of cells at the edge of comb, where new cells are to be built. We presented bees with wax stimuli comprising shallow depressions and protuberances in simulation of features found within partially formed comb, and demonstrated that construction work by honeybee builders was influenced by these stimuli. The building of new cells was aligned to concave stimuli that simulated the clefts that naturally appear between two partially formed cells, revealing how new cells may be aligned to ensure proper tessellation within comb. We also found that bees built cell walls in response to edges formed by our stimuli, suggesting that cell and wall construction was specifically directed towards the locations necessary for continuation of hexagonal comb.

Gamma Irradiation as a Possible Phytosanitary Treatment against the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella, Mature Larvae

Larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L., can be a devastating pest of honeybee combs in storage. Current control measures may not be adequate or with some drawbacks. Treatment with ionizing radiation could be a possible alternative. Determining the dose, however, requires a detailed study on the radiosensitivity of this stage.
 In this study, the sensitivity of the greater wax moth mature larvae to ionizing radiation was examined. Larvae were exposed to gamma radiation dosages (50 to 400 Gy) and effects on rate of development, pupation and pupal eclosion (adult emergence) were investigated. In addition, large scale confirmatory tests were conducted to validate treatment efficacy at statistical confidence levels needed for phytosanitary (quarantine and disinfestations) security. Results showed that radiation sensitivity of G. mellonella mature larvae increased, as expected, with increasing radiation dose. The magnitude of the effect, however, depends on the criterion used for measuring effectiveness. Both pupation and pupal eclosion were significantly affected at 50 Gy dose and no emergence was recorded at 300 Gy. Results of large scale confirmatory trials (>30,000 mature larvae) supported the results of the small scale studies. According to probit analysis of dose mortality data for pupation and pupal eclosion, the LD99 for preventing development of mature larvae to pupae and adults is 576 and 318 Gy, respectively. In addition, the developmental rate of mature larvae to adults was negatively affected. This suggests that a dose of 250 Gy may be adequate for disinfesting honeybee products infested with greater wax moth larvae.

POTENTIAL USE OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS TO CONTROL GREATER WAX MOTH, Galleria mellonella LINNAEUS AND ITS SELECTIVITY IN RELATION TO HONEY BEES

The use of synthetic insecticides is one of the most widely used strategies to control wax moth infestations. However, toxicity to bees and contamination of their products have been considered to be consequences of insecticide residues, increasing the risk of hazards to human health and environment. Here, we evaluated the application of plant extracts and essential oil would be selective against the honey bees Apis cerana indica L. without compromising the control of the wax moths Galleria mellonella. In that, peppermint oil (1.25%) and Azadirachta indica (3%) caused 53.33% and 40.00% mortality. Whereas, eucalyptus oil (1.25%), Ocimum tenuiflorum (3%) extract caused 33% wax moth mortality. But in contact toxicity, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil (5%) caused highest larval mortality 80% and 72.38%, O. tenuiflorum at 10% concentration recorded 56.19% mortality. In repellence bioassay, peppermint oil (1.25%) and A. indica (3%) caused 100% repellence. Whereas, at 10% concentration only O. tenuiflorum caused 100% repellence. Furthermore, O. tenuiflorum (10%), A. indica (10%), peppermint oil (2.5%) and eucalyptus oils (2.5%) did not kill honeybee but did exhibit insecticidal and repellent activities against the larvae and adults of wax moth. By exhibiting desirable levels of selectivity against A. cerana indica and providing relevant control levels against wax moths, the application of O. tenuiflorum leaf extracts and pepper mint essential oil represents a desirable tool to replace the use of synthetic insecticides against wax moths in weak honey bee colonies as well as in stored honey bee combs.

Future effects of small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, on honey bee colony in Turkey based on temperature factor using a mathematical model

Biological invasions are becoming the most serious global environmental threats under changing climate. Beekeeping has faced such invasions with the changing climatic. One of these invaders is the small hive beetle (SHB), which has not yet been encountered in some countries and is currently at a preventable level. SHB can be a highly destructive pest for honey bee colonies, as it damages honey bee comb and larvae, as well as honey and pollen. Although SHB threatens honey bee populations, the impact of climate change on the severity of infestation and its growth rate are still unknown. This apicultural issue is theoretically addressed by using a coupled honey bee–SHB mathematical model in which the rate of SHB growth varies with time to account for changing climate. When the temperature rises, honey bee colonies collapse due to an increase in SHB growth rate, and the severity of the infestation also plays a role in the colony’s survival. This study suggests that in the future, global warming will increase colony losses from SHB and may increase the risk of SHBs spreading to regions where it is currently absent, and precautions should be taken to prevent transmission.

Computational methods for the characterization of Apis mellifera comb architecture

The architecture of honey bee combs embodies a range of expressions associated with swarm intelligence, emergent behaviors, and social organization, which has drawn scientists to study them as a model of collective construction processes. Until recently, however, the development of models to characterize comb-building behavior has relied heavily on laborious manual observations and measurements. The use of high-throughput multi-scale analyses to investigate the geometric features of Apis mellifera comb therefore has the potential to vastly expand our understanding of comb-building processes. Inspired by this potential, here we explore connections between geometry and behavior by utilizing computational methods for the detailed examination of hives constructed within environments designed to observe how natural building rule sets respond to environmental perturbations. Using combs reconstructed from X-ray micro-computed tomography source data, we introduce a set of tools to analyze geometry and material distributions from these scans, spanning from individual cells to whole-hive-level length scales. Our results reveal relationships between cell geometry and comb morphology, enable the generalization of prior research on build direction, demonstrate the viability of our methods for isolating specific features of comb architecture, and illustrate how these results may be employed to investigate hive-level behaviors related to build-order and material distributions.

Structure of Fejes T\xf3th cells in natural honey bee combs

We present an analysis of the structure of Fejes Tóth cells in the natural combs of the Chinese bee, Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and the Italian bee, Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae). The proportion of Fejes Tóth cells in the natural combs built by bee colonies was determined. Molds of Fejes Tóth cells and three-rhombus cells were used to measure various structural parameters, such as the diameter and depth of Fejes Tóth cells and three-rhombus cells. Both Chinese bees and Italian bees built an average of no more than 18% Fejes Tóth cells on natural combs. The dihedral angle of the two hexagonal planes at the bottom of the Fejes Tóth cells was significantly less than 120°. No significant differences in the diameter and depth of Fejes Tóth cells and three-rhombus cells were observed. The results of this study clarified the structural characteristics of Fejes Tóth cells in natural combs. These data will aid the manufacture of Fejes Tóth wax comb foundations specifically and the growth of the beekeeping industry more generally.

Cell orientation characteristics of the natural combs of honey bee colonies.

The cell orientation characteristics of the natural combs of honey bees have received much research attention. Although natural combs have been shown to be composed of cells with three orientations—vertical, intermediate (oblique), and horizontal—the proportion of comb cells in these three orientations varies. Knowledge of the comb-building preferences of honey bees is essential for the installation of wax comb foundations, and clarification of the cell orientation characteristics of natural honey bee combs is important for beekeeping. The purpose of this study was to determine the cell orientation characteristics of natural combs of Eastern honey bees (Apis cerana cerana) and Western honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica). Newly built combs were used to measure the orientation of hexagonal cells and calculate the proportion of cells in different orientations relative to the total number of cells. The number of eggs laid by queens in the cells of different orientations was also determined. The orientation of cells in the natural combs of Eastern and Western honey bees was determined based on the value of the minimum included angle between the pair of parallel cell walls and a vertical line connecting the top and bottom bars of the movable frame in the geometric plane of the comb: 0°≤θ≤10°, 10°<θ≤20°, and 20°<θ≤30° for vertical, intermediate, and horizontal orientations, respectively. Natural combs were composed of cells with at least one orientation (vertical or horizontal), two orientations (vertical + intermediate (oblique) or vertical + horizontal), or three orientations (vertical + intermediate + horizontal), and the proportions of combs with the three aforementioned configurations differed. Both Eastern honey bees and Western honey bees preferred building combs with cells in a vertical orientation. Queens showed no clear preference for laying eggs in cells of specific orientations. The results of this study provide new insight that could aid the production and cutting of wax comb foundations of Eastern and Western honey bees. Our study highlights the importance of installing wax comb foundations compatible with the comb-building preferences of bees.

Automated image analysis to assess hygienic behaviour of honeybees.

Focus of this study is to design an automated image processing pipeline for handling uncontrolled acquisition conditions of images acquired in the field. The pipeline has been tested on the automated identification and count of uncapped brood cells in honeybee (Apis Mellifera) comb images to reduce the workload of beekeepers during the study of the hygienic behavior of honeybee colonies. The images used to develop and test the model were acquired by beekeepers on different days and hours in summer 2020 and under uncontrolled conditions. This resulted in images differing for background noise, illumination, color, comb tilts, scaling, and comb sizes. All the available 127 images were manually cropped to approximately include the comb area. To obtain an unbiased evaluation, the cropped images were randomly split into a training image set (50 images), which was used to develop and tune the proposed model, and a test image set (77 images), which was solely used to test the model. To reduce the effects of varied illuminations or exposures, three image enhancement algorithms were tested and compared followed by the Hough Transform, which allowed identifying individual cells to be automatically counted. All the algorithm parameters were automatically chosen on the training set by grid search. When applied to the 77 test images the model obtained a correlation of 0.819 between the automated counts and the experts' counts. To provide an assessment of our model with publicly available images acquired by a different equipment and under different acquisition conditions, we randomly extracted 100 images from a comb image dataset made available by a recent literature work. Though it has been acquired under controlled exposure, the images in this new set have varied illuminations; anyhow, our pipeline obtains a correlation between automatic and manual counts equal to 0.997. In conclusion, our tests on the automatic count of uncapped honey bee comb cells acquired in the field and on images extracted from a publicly available dataset suggest that the hereby generated pipeline successfully handles varied noise artifacts, illumination, and exposure conditions, therefore allowing to generalize our method to different acquisition settings. Results further improve when the acquisition conditions are controlled.

Evaluating and Comparing the Natural Cell Structure and Dimensions of Honey Bee Comb Cells of Chinese Bee, Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Italian Bee, Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The hexagonal structure of the honey bee comb cell has been the source of many studies attempting to understand its structure and function. In the storage area of the comb, only honey is stored and no brood is reared. We predicted that honey bees may construct different hexagonal cells for brood rearing and honey storage. We used quantitative analyses to evaluate the structure and function of the natural comb cell in the Chinese bee, Apis cerana cerana and the Italian bee, A. mellifera ligustica. We made cell molds using a crystal glue solution and measured the structure and inclination of cells. We found that the comb cells of A. c. cerana had both upward-sloping and downward-sloping cells; while the A. m. ligustica cells all tilted upwards. Interestingly, the cells did not conform to the regular hexagonal prism structure and showed irregular diameter sizes. In both species, comb cells also were differentiated into worker, drone and honey cells, differing in their diameter and depth. This study revealed unique differences in the structure and function of comb cells and showed that honey bees design their cells with precise engineering to increase storage capacity, and to create adequate growing room for their brood.

Changes in the Physicochemical Properties of Starch Syrups after Processing by Honeybees

In recent time, it has become a common practice to use different kinds of starch syrups available on the market as a winter food for bees. However, the physicochemical composition of these syrups and their suitability for winter feeding of honeybee colonies are still insufficiently investigated. Therefore, our study analyzed the composition of three commercially available starch syrups, inverted saccharose syrup and homemade saccharose syrups, and tested winter stores processed by bees from these syrups. The following physicochemical parameters were investigated: water, sugars composition, maltodextrins (DP4–DP7) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, pH and free acidity, as well as electrical conductivity. We found that the sugar composition of starch syrups ensures the suitable sugar composition of winter stores processed by the bees from these syrups. Winter stores compared to fresh syrups had a high content of total fructose and glucose (50 g/100 g), and some amounts of maltose (15 g/100 g), maltotriose (4 g/100 g), and maltodextrins (4 g/100 g). The small percentage of maltodextrins is responsible for maintaining the liquid consistency of the winter stores in honeybee combs during storage. Water content not exceeding 17.2% and adequate pH value (around 4.00) guarantee the stability of winter stores during storage in honeybee combs. A HMF content of up to 50 mg/kg was safe for bee colonies during wintering.

Incidence of Predators and Anthropogenic Activities Affecting Beekeeping in Nigeria

This study evaluated the incidence of predators and anthropogenic activities affecting beekeeping in Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered in Oyo, Ogun and Osun States in the Forest Vegetation and Kaduna, Niger and Kano States in the Savanah vegetation zones of Nigeria. Data obtained were analyzed with parametric statistical tool of mean. The result showed that the largest populations of beekeepers were Bachelor Degree and National Certificate in Education NCE holders (25.0% each), MSc (8%), National Diploma ND (8%) and Postgraduate Diploma PGD (9%). Assessment of human activities that were harmful to beekeeping identified by respondents in the forest vegetation zones revealed indiscriminate use of pesticide (16.67%), theft (33.33%) and herdsmen activity (cattle rearing) (31.82%) while savannah vegetation zones had the following record, indiscriminate use of pesticide (25.00%), theft (35.33%) and herdsmen activity (35.71%). Avoidance of scattering honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) combs around the apiary was found as the most effective method in preventing spread of insect pests. Other methods include: hive sanitation, hive positioning, handpicking of insects, the use of spent engine oil, regular weeding, fencing of apiary and use of bee pen. The hives painted with green coloured paint was reported by respondent to control wasp, spider, termites and lesser wax moth. Beekeepers reported weeding as the most effective method used in controlling predators as it was noted that apiaries regularly weeded controlled the following predators with their respective incidence level: rat (8.33%), snake (12.50%), toad (29.7%), frog (20.83%) and ghecko (37.50%) while the most significant was lizard incidence which was 54.17%. Report from respondents on traditional methods to detect apiary problems categorized into predator and human activities include: decreasing size of colony, majority of bees staying outside the hive, sighting of pests in the apiary and abscondment of bees while human interference was noticed with dead bees found in and outside the hive, inactive bees, trace of burnt grasses and shrubs in the apiary and felled hives from stands.

Transitional fishery: a new resource for global nutritional food and medicinal security

Sea and river junctions form lagoon, sites become largely marshy land with fresh water at upper approaching river reach and brackish water towards sea. Such bays are plentiful in numbers and visited by aquatic birds during the winter seasons. Previous studies established vast possibility of harvesting biological nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) through aquatic bird droppings viz Guano. The vast sizes and number of such sites have huge potential for fishery with differing in quality characters which is termed as transitional fishery in the present study. Objective of the present study was to bring impetus in this new category of fishery with scientific management so as to make the venture highly efficient and responsive, and enable harnessing plentiful benefits of nutritional food and medicinal security. The transitional fishery was considered as ecosystems and various networks of ecology of land, vegetation, fish and aquatic birds were brought in a band for managing it in new pattern. Ecological lessons were hypothesized and validated by results on fishery on lagoons available in literatures. First innovative lesson was that fish adopt site in North East direction of fresh water stream, as also corroborated by honey bee comb sites on N-E side of any circular water tank’s supporting posts. The second innovative fact was to transformed terrestrial land as sites for growing highly palatable nitrogen rich organic feed for fishery. Thus, colonization and feeding become conclusive approach, as supported by past researches, as guide to fishery scientist to move steps ahead in harnessing productivity of lagoons. Thus, fresh and marine brackish water transition zones become vast resources for countries to derive prosperity and employment generations. The innovative fishery feed will be usable for other types of fisheries ie fresh water fishery as well as marine fishery.

Bioinspired Honeycomb Core Design: An Experimental Study of the Role of Corner Radius, Coping and Interface.

The honeybee’s comb has inspired the design of engineering honeycomb core that primarily abstract the hexagonal cell shape and exploit its mass minimizing properties to construct lightweight panels. This work explored three additional design features that are part of natural honeybee comb but have not been as well studied as design features of interest in honeycomb design: the radius at the corner of each cell, the coping at the top of the cell walls, and the interface between cell arrays. These features were first characterized in natural honeycomb using optical and X-ray techniques and then incorporated into honeycomb core design and fabricated using an additive manufacturing process. The honeycomb cores were then tested in out-of-plane compression and bending, and since all three design features added mass to the overall structure, all metrics of interest were examined per unit mass to assess performance gains despite these additions. The study concluded that the presence of an interface increases specific flexural modulus in bending, with no significant benefit in out-of-plane compression; coping radius positively impacts specific flexural strength, however, the corner radius has no significant effect in bending and actually is slightly detrimental for out-of-plane compression testing.

Radiation Disinfestation of Honeybee Combs Infested with Greater Wax Moth Eggs

Abstract The sensitivity of different developmental stages of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) eggs to gamma irradiation was examined. Eggs, 25 to 144 h-old, were exposed at 48 h intervals to gamma radiation dosages (50 to 400 Gy), and the effects on egg hatch, pupation and adult emergence were investigated. The developmental rate of irradiated-egg larvae and pupae to adult stage was also studied. Results showed that the irradiation sensitivity of G. mellonella eggs decreased with increased age of the eggs when irradiated. In 25–48 h-old eggs, 50 Gy dose significantly reduced egg hatch and at 200 Gy dose no egg hatch was observed. Eggs 73–96 h-old were slightly more tolerant to irradiation treatment; hatching completely ceased at 250 Gy dose. Sensitivity to gamma irradiation reached its lowest level however when 121–144 h-old eggs (few h. before egg hatch) were irradiated. 350 Gy dose reduced egg hatch to about 3%, and at 400 Gy no egg hatch was noted. Survival to the adult stage was also negatively affected. At the most radio-tolerant stage (121–144 h-old), 100 Gy dose significantly reduced larval survival to the adult stage and 300 Gy completely prevented it. The development rate of larvae and pupae resulting from irradiated eggs was also negatively affected.

Aberrant cocoons found on honey bee comb cells are found to be Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski) (Hymenoptera: Megachillidae)

Potential biological threats to honey bees must be identified quickly, before making disruptive and costly decisions. Here we describe numerous Osmia cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachillidae) cocoons in honey bee cells from one bee hive in Ohio. The developing Osmia cells presented themselves as a mystery at first, catching the attention of regulatory agencies. Along with identifying this species as a presumably benign resident in honey bee colonies, our observations suggest Osmia may use stored honey bee resources to provision offspring. Conceivably, resident honey bees might even act as surrogates because Osmia cocoons were attached to one another with honey bee wax, it seems likely that honey bee hosts were present during Osmia development. Along with resolving a potentially new biotic threat to honey bees, this diagnosis suggests a method for mass production of Osmia pollinators using an array of single-cell foundation.

Automatic detection and classification of honey bee comb cells using deep learning

In a scenario of worldwide honey bee decline, assessing colony strength is becoming increasingly important for sustainable beekeeping. Temporal counts of number of comb cells with brood and food reserves offers researchers data for multiple applications, such as modelling colony dynamics, and beekeepers information on colony strength, an indicator of colony health and honey yield. Counting cells manually in comb images is labour intensive, tedious, and prone to error. Herein, we developed a free software, named DeepBee©, capable of automatically detecting cells in comb images and classifying their contents into seven classes. By distinguishing cells occupied by eggs, larvae, capped brood, pollen, nectar, honey, and other, DeepBee© allows an unprecedented level of accuracy in cell classification. Using Circle Hough Transform and the semantic segmentation technique, we obtained a cell detection rate of 98.7%, which is 16.2% higher than the best result found in the literature. For classification of comb cells, we trained and evaluated thirteen different convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures, including: DenseNet (121, 169 and 201); InceptionResNetV2; InceptionV3; MobileNet; MobileNetV2; NasNet; NasNetMobile; ResNet50; VGG (16 and 19) and Xception. MobileNet revealed to be the best compromise between training cost, with ~9 s for processing all cells in a comb image, and accuracy, with an F1-Score of 94.3%. We show the technical details to build a complete pipeline for classifying and counting comb cells and we made the CNN models, source code, and datasets publicly available. With this effort, we hope to have expanded the frontier of apicultural precision analysis by providing a tool with high performance and source codes to foster improvement by third parties (https://github.com/AvsThiago/DeepBee-source).

Nutritional and Therapeutic potential of Propolis: A Review

Propolis is resinous waxy natural product derived from honey bee combs. The aim of this study was to review the nutritional and therapeutic potential of propolis so as to provide basic data required for further detailed investigation of propolis. Chemical analysis data reported showed presence of phenolic compounds, esters, flavonoids, terpenes, beta-steroids, aromatic aldehydes and alcohols, sesquiterpenes, and stilbene terpenes and more than 300 chemical compounds. Pharmacological studies revealed that different extracts of propolis is possess antiviral, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-ulcer traditionally. It is also used as nutritional and functional food ingredient. Propolis possesses tremendous nutritional and therapeutic potential and it is worldwide reported in various natural or traditional systems. In this study, propolis characteristic, nutritional value, therapeutic potential and various issues reported in formulation development for improvement of physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of propolis has been reviewed.

Melissopalynological, physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey from West Coast of Malaysia

Stingless bees are native to tropical region and produce honey which are high in moisture content. Compared to honey from honeybees, there are limited studies on honey derived from stingless bees. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of stingless bee honey. Fifteen types of honey were collected from six states in West Coast of Malaysia and pollen analyses were carried out. Four types of unifloral honey samples produced by stingless bees were selected to determine their physicochemical and antioxidant activities including total phenolic, total flavonoid and ascorbic acid contents. Melissopalynological study of 15 honey samples collected from different states showed presence of both unifloral and multifloral origins. Honey samples collected from Apis mellifera (honeybee) combs had lower number of total pollen compared to samples collected from Heterotrigona itama and Geniotrigona thoracica (stingless bees). Jambul Merak honey contains the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents with greatest color intensity and has the highest antioxidant potential. This study highlights the chemical composition and biological activity of honey from stingless bees which may increase its commercial value or to be utilised as potential functional food ingredient.