Achievements – honeybee

(A)Honey bees and their management

(a) Seasonal management,

Apis mellifera

Performance of A. mellifera was studied different agro-climatic zones of Punjab.
The colonies of A. mellifera introduced to Kerala and they survived well under the weather conditions of Kerala. The indigenous A. cerana as well as the exotic A. mellifera colonies were subjected to studies for their peak activity in a day, variation in their development period, sources of food etc
Comparative performance of A.mellifera colonies on Bt and non- Bt cotton was studied which revealed about equal sealed brood survival (83.58 – 87.27 %) leading to worker bees’ emergence though the larval survival. Colony strength and survival were adversely affected due to insecticide sprays on both Bt and Non-Bt cotton owing to the sporadic infestation of tobacco caterpillar and white fly.
Three feedings of sugar (500 g in equal quantity of water) at 10 day intervals increased colony strength, brood rearing and storage of surplus honey by 95.89, 126.44 and 277.27 per cent over no feeding, respectively under Ludhiana conditions.
Winter packing of A. mellifera colonies during December- February with paddy straw wrapped in poylthene bags resulted in 138.89-162.86 per cent increase in brood area.
Studies on the influence of age of combs on their acceptability by the queen bee to lay eggs revealed one and two years old raised combs were most acceptable over three and four years old combs to queen bees for egg laying due to ideal cell measurements.
Mean honey production in double queen colonies was more than three times (5.03-5.50 kg) than in single queen headed single strength colonies (1.23-1.67 kg). Thus double strength colonies though could not provide any advantage in terms of bee strength but it did result in augmentation of honey production even over the cumulative honey produced (2.90 kg) by two single strength colonies.
A new method of managing laying worker colonies at Jammu center was developed which involves introduction of one strong brood frame from other queen right colonies having eggs and broods (sealed/unsealed or both) in the laying worker colonies at weekly interval for five times in succession in the breeding season confirmed to correct the laying worker colony which was easier and workable

Apis cerana indica

Survey on bee foraging plants in the initial years for A. cerana indica in different agro-climatic zones of the country have been conducted
Beekeeping maps with floral calendar in respect with different agro-ecological zones have been worked out and routes for both within and outside the state were planned for migratory beekeeping
Swarming tendency in Apis cerana colonies under Kerala conditions was observed only once in a year during September. Moreover, production of sexuals and swarming showed synchrony during the above period even with bad foraging conditions. This led to the conclusion that feeding of sugar syrup during dearth and brood rearing season has a great impact on the colony growth.
It has been validated at Assam center that the bamboo hat as the best shading materials against torrential rain and sun in bee hive compared to tin cover and open space. The beekeepers can easily afford the cost of bamboo hat. The temperature inside the hive was lower of 24.30- 34.68⁰C in hives covered by bamboo hat as compared to 25.45 – 37.31⁰C and 25.49-39.20⁰C under open and tin cover respectively.

(b) Specific management

Apis cerana indica

Under agro-climatic conditions of Odisha record of hive temperature revealed that in spite of wide variation in external temperature ranging between 17 ^oC to 38 ^oC while the internal temperature in hive varied narrowly between 32.0^oC to 34.7^oC which clearly indicates the efficient thermoregulation mechanism in bees.
Dearth feeding is a must for better management of Apis cerana indica. Artificial feeding with sugar (Sugar: Water::1: 1) in rainy season reduced absconding to a level of <10 %.

(B)Stock Improvement

Apis mellifera

Stock of Apis mellifera was improved based on different parameters , bee strength, brood area, pollen store, honey store, pollen forager, cleanliness, and queen egg laying capacity, queen weight and aggressiveness. Based on the performance, the better performing colonies of Apis mellifera were multiplied to increases colony numbers.
Queen rearing technique for hive bees under Himachal conditions has been standardized. Also minimum bee strength and food stores required have been worked for successful overwintering in the state. Selected stock of mellifera was supplied to bee breeders of the state through H P Government.

Apis cerana indica

In Kerala, colonies of cerana indica resistant/ tolerant to TSBV were identified and selected.
The comparative performance between hill and plains races of Apis cerana carried out in Assam demonstrated that hill race is superior in terms of brood area, pollen and nectar area development, honey yield and resistance to disease (TSBV) as compared to plains race except swarming and absconding tendency which are higher in hill race.
Indian hive bee (Apis cerana indica) colonies with the honey store, pollen store, brood area and bee strength varying from 46.0 to 720.5 cm², 52.4 to 214.8 cm², 425.0 to 918.5 cm² and 4.5 to 5.6, respectively having moderate foraging activity were selected as improved stock with desirable traits.
A new technique for queen bee rearing was developed
For mass queen bee rearing of A.mellifera, 20 bee frame strength cell builder colonies resulted in better acceptance of grafts and gyne emergence than in 10 bee frame strength using a total of 40 graft both under queenless and queenright conditions .
Recent evaluation of comparative efficiency of Doolittle and novel techniques of queen rearing during 2012-13 revealed that maximum acceptance was in Cup-kit apparatus both during spring (66.0%) and autumn (54.0 %). Maximum raising of cell cups from Cup-kit apparatus was during spring and autumn with respective values of 64.00 and 50.00 per cent. Maximum sealing of cell cups raised was recorded in cells from cup-kit apparatus during spring (60.7 %) and autumn (46.0 %). The emergence of gynes was maximum from queen cells raised from Cupkit apparatus cups during spring (54.7 %) and autumn (40.7 %). The weight of newly emerged gynes was the maximum from Doolittle method in plastic cell cups during both spring (212.36 mg) and autumn (202.57 mg). So, Cupkit apparatus in queenless cell builder colonies proved promising for mass rearing of queen bees.
Queen bee bank/ reservoir technique was standardized to facilitate queen replacement in queenless colony arise under unnatural death of the queen.
Comparative performance of queens raised in different months was assessed. November and March raised queen bees had desirable attributes. However, November raised queen performed better due to raising higher worker brood area in ensuing honey flow season (April)

(C)Nutritional Management and pollen supplements

Apis mellifera

To meet the colony demand of protein during shortage of pollen, pollen substitutes as patties containing 4% dried skimmed milk, 50% sucrose and Brewer’s yeast and Guar meal (By gm) providing 14.7% protein and fibre content little less than natural pollen, were most suitable in terms of brood rearing and other colony parameters
Apis mellifera preferred Brassica pollen, followed by mixture of Brassica + Helianthusannuus (1:1 ratio w/w) and Helianthus annuus alone. Probably due to maximum crude protein content (26.17%). Supplementation of artificial diet with Vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxin) leads to positive effects on colony parameters whereas niacin had negative effects.

The artificial diet comprising of Soybean flour (25 g) + Yeast (10 g) + Pollen (15 g) + Skimmed milk powder (5 g) + Honey (22.5 g) + Sugar (22.5 g) was evaluated to be the best suited for colony development under Bihar condition during floral dearth.
In Himachal Pradesh, Pollen substitute for A. mellifera consisting of defatted soyabean flour and wheat flour in equal amount (1:1) and mixed with deactivated Brewer’s yeast (3:1) was standardized.
Artificial feeding (sugar solution 50%) to A. mellifera @ 750 g of sugar per week /colony was found to be optimum for their better bee strength, brood development and pollen storage during dearth period
Under Pantnagar situation, Soybean flour with honey followed by bajra with dried yeast was found to be most preferred flour for A. mellifera bees. Probably due high protein content (41-45 %) in soybean flour.
Artificial sugar feeding for Asiatic hive bee, Apis cerana. indica has been standardised for different season under Odisha conditions. Sugar @ 250 g/colony /week is required. Ratio of sugar: water for stimulant feeding is 2:1, Supplementary feeding is 1:2 and the dearth feeding is 1:1.

(D) Stingless Bee, Trigona iridipennis

(a) Nesting behaviour of subterranean stingless bee (Lophotrigona canifrons)

Studies on nesting behaviour of Stingless bee, Lophotrigona canifrons were conducted in Nagaland by marking the underground colonies in the end of summer. The nesting sets were found at an average depth of 140.9 cm. Due to short flight range the Stingless bees have proven to be the best pollinators in closed conditions viz. polyhouses, glass houses.
The stingless bees collected from different districts of Kerala were identified to be of same species, Tetragonula iridipennis. The same species also found distributed in different districts of Odisha. Besides, earthen pots, mud/brick walls, dead wooden logs they constructed their nests in hidden places even in switch boxes, places not easily approachable and interestingly in branches of live banyan trees. Normally the colonies were constructed in lower heights (4’ to about10’ from ground level) with the small entrance of various size and shapes seen to outside only.

Fifty eight (58) species of plants including 20 crop plants, 12 ornamental plants, 11 medicinal plants, 8 weeds and 7 fruit crops were foraged by iridipennis in Odisha. Thus, there is a wide scope to maintain the colonies of stingless bees in the backyard to ensure pollination service to backyard or kitchen garden crops.

In Kerala, 128 stingless bee foraging plants were identified of which61 provided nectar only, 23 plants provided pollen only and 44 provided both nectar and pollen.

Biology and morphometric studies on different castes of stingless bees was accomplished by Kerala center

(b) Domestication and management technologies of stingless bee Tetrogonula iridipennis

Wooden hives with a volume of 1960 cc was found to be most suitable size for hiving and division of Stingless bee colonies.
Tetragonula iridipennis could be hived successfully in wooden box (25 x 15 x 13 cm) for years together under Odisha conditions. At Pantnagar , hive with the size 30x10x12 cm (length x width x height) was found to be most suitable, because brood development and pollen storage were very good, and total volume and area coverage were also very high
Standardized the methodology for honey extraction from stingless bee colonies without damaging the brood and pollen storage
Developed artificial feeding technique to stingless bee colonies by providing diluted honey.
Developed techniques for multiplication of stingless bee colonies by grafting with queen cells

(E) Carpenter bees, Xylocopa spp

The nesting behaviour of Xylocopa fenestrata and Xylocopa leucothorax de (Green) was studied in terms of nesting site, materials and architecture.
Xylocopa leucothorax preferred dry wood for making nest where as fenestrata made nest in dry bamboo
In bamboo, the nests were constructed in a linear pattern extending only one side from the entrance hole. In wood the nests were either branching or straight. The position of nest diameter of entrance hole, number of cells per nest and the girth of nest varied with the species and nesting materials. The brood nests of Xylocopa consisted of several cells whereas male domiciles were devoid of such structure.
Two species viz., Xylocopa fenestrata and Xylocopa pubescence were recorded at Pusa and the bamboo top was found best habitat for Xylocopa The acceptance of Xylocopa fenestrata was recorded being 52.50% which ranged between 40-60%
Bamboo top var. jati with 2.53±12 cm girth is suitable material for rearing Xylocopa fenestrata and recommended for pollination of cucurbit crops i.e cucumber, ridge gourd etc.

(F) Bumble bee, Bombus haemorrhoidalis

Studies on nest architecture, bumble bee flora, development of domiciles and rearing were carried out at Solan center. Now technology for year round mass multiplication of Bombus haemorrhoidalis has been standardized.
Different pests and diseases attacking bumble bees under agro-ecosystems of Himachal Pradesh were documented.
Survey of Bumble bee fauna in Haryana revealed presence of Bumble bee, Bombus haemorrhoidalis for the first time from Pinjore Block of Dist. Panchkula.
RAPD-PCR profiles showed a band pattern of expected size between 300-700bp for indigenous bumble bee, B. haemorrhoidalis. Chromosomal studies revealed that haploid chromosome number of B. haemorrhoidalis drone bee (n=18). While in queen and workers, it was diploid (2n=36). Actual length of the chromosome in male bees ranged from 0.36±0.04 µm in the shortest chromosome to 1.52±0.04 µm in the longest chromosome. Total complement length was 15.06±1.14 and 29.18±0.7µm SE in males and females, respectively.

(G) Wild Honey bee species, Apis dorsata and Apis florea

Colonies of Apis florea are normally found among the branches of the bushes located at very low height. Removal of bushes and cleaning of areas around agriculture field has resulted in marked depletion of A. florea colonies near agricultural areas. The bees are seen to change their habitat constructing nests/hive in trees and even skylight of double storied building (25 feet height)

(H) Pollinators’ diversity and Bee pollination

The role of pollinators in enhancing quantitative and qualitative yield has been quantified in 38 crops and recommendations have been made on the number of bee colonies required per ha for optimum pollination.

(I) HONEY BEE ENEMIES

(a) Wax moth (Galleria mellonella)

Under Punjab conditions wax moth (Galleria mellonella) did not infest honey bee colonies in January-May. In rest of the period its infestation varied from 0.7-19.3 per cent with maximum damage during rainy season. Studies on its biology and seasonal history revealed that wax moth completed five generations in a year
Thymol at 1% concentration gave 85% mortality of wax moth larvae after 48 hrs of exposure followed by Thymol at 0.5% concentration with 70.60% mortality. Menthol showed 69.0% and 76.10% mortality at 0.5 and 1% concentrations.
Integrated management technique for wax moth has been developed encompassing mechanical, chemical and moth trap methods: IPM of wax moth in cerana colonies was taken up with following practices such as treating cracks and crevices with lime sulphur, application of Bt products, setting of oviposition trap and periodical cleaning of hives

(b) Brood mite, Tropilaelaps clareae

Studies on chemical control of brood mite in A. mellifera colonies revealed that the application of formic acid effectively controlled the brood mites with mean total mortality of 40.33-41.20 per cent
The ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps clarae infestation in Apis mellifera hives in Samastipur was effectively controlled by applying oxalic acid (35g) and 200 g sugar dissolved in warm water @ 2 ml per frame through ULV sprayer by covering brood by tissue papers.
Regular inspection of colonies during October-November for mite infestation and fumigation with 85 % Formic acid @ 5 ml/colony/day is suggested for 21 days to achieve satisfactory control of the mites, Tropilaelaps clareae under Odisha conditions.

(c) Varroa mite, Varroa destructor

populations in Northern India are Korean haplotype. Out of the 32 samples, 21 had the conserved sequences and 11 were variants.
Various non-chemical techniques for the successful management of V. destructor include isolation of healthy colonies/ apiaries from infested colonies/ apiaries helped in checking mite infestation in healthy colonies followed by use of Varroa bottom boards along with sticky papers on the bottom board and trapping of V. destructor mites on drone brood and then destruction of the sealed drone brood.
Another study on the management of V. destructor revealed that spraying 4.2% aqueous solution of oxalic acid @ 5 ml per comb four times at 3-4 days intervals was found effective.

(d) Endoparasitic mite, Acarapis woodi

Acarapis woodi mite was controlled by applying formic acid (85 %) @ 5ml/day/ colony for 21days .

(e) Wasps

The incidence of yellow-banded wasps, Vespa cincta peaked during April-May and August-September in hilly tracts of Orissa affecting Apis cerana indica colonies. Use of the indigenous technique of covering the front of hive with coconut leaf to some extent helped the bees to escape the attack of wasp. Besides destruction of wasp nests in nearby areas is also suggested to reduce the menace of wasps.
A mechanical exclusion device such as using of nylon net having 1 cm mesh size has been found effective in which bees can move but the predatory wasp could not get into. The device was found to be effective with 92.73 to 96.46 percent protection from wasps.
The predatory wasps Vespa velutina, V. orientalis, V. cincta, V. basali and V. mandarinia. The V. velutina and V. basalis were recorded as major enemies of A. mellifera. The maximum wasp attack was observed from July -September. The maximum wasp incidence was in morning (9.00-11.00 am)

(f) Bee assassin bugs

Bee assassin bug, Acanthaspis siva was recorded for the first time in bee hive of Apis cerana indica in Odisha. This was recorded for the first time from Odisha. Similarly another reduvid predator, Sycanus affinis was recorded predating A. mellifera in field condition of Dhenkanal which also predated upon A laboratory conditions.

(g) Birds

Merops orientalis is the major predator of European bee, A. mellifera in Kerala during the brood rearing seasons (September to January) which cause severe damage/decline in bee population and in turn affect the honey production

(J) Enemies of stingless bees

Survey on enemies of stingless bees in Kerala indicated that stingless bees were predated by 15 species of arthropods. Those include Black soldier fly, Hermitia illucens, Nitidulid beetle, Aethina sp, Reduviid bug, Acanthaspis siva , Assassin bug, Sycanussp., Cream Crab Spider, Thomisus projectus, White Crab Spider, Thomisus lobosus, Grey Sphere Spider, Neoscona nautical, Common Wall Jumper, Menemerus bivittatus,Common Zebra Jumper, Plexippus paykulli,Two Tailed Spider, Hersiliasa vignyi, Common House Spider, Heteropoda venatoria, Box Spider, Crossopri zalyoni , Megachilid bee, Ants, S. geminata, Mites, Amblyseius sp. and others.

(K) BEE PATHOLOGY

The honey bee diseases recorded commonly in India are European foul brood, Thai Sac brood and other minor diseases viz. chalk brood, Nosema, Acarine diseases etc.
Isolation and characterization of the bacteria associated with diseased larval samples of A. mellifera was carried out. The bacterium has been identified as Melissococcus plutonius.
Spread of EFB vis-à-vis migratory beekeeping was studied. It established a significant relation between migration of colonies and occurrence of EFB.
The manipulative practices such as isolation of the infected colony from the apiary (at least 300mm) and removing the queen creating broodlessness for sometime and requeening the colony during breeding season found to be effective for the manahgemnt of Thai sac brood disease in Apis cerana indica
Two microorganisms (Psuedomonas and Bacillus cereus) infecting Apis cerana indica colonies isolated from the brood specimens of A. cerana colonies at Kerala using blood agar and were confirmed through DNA sequencing.
Nosema disease which is responsible for causing high mortality of adult bees was studied. The causal fungal spores were isolated and identified for the first time in the country. Disease can be controlled by avoiding the continuous bee confinement during rainy and foggy days.
Microscopic studies on Nosema in Apis mellifera at solan center revealed the presence of oval (4.2- 5.3 µm x 1.5-2.7 µm) to round shaped (0.90 – 2.27µm) nosema spores. The oval shape spores became round when observed after 24 hours on dry slide and they regain their shape after putting a drop of water. Disease samples collected from different parts of the state were positive for presence of Nosema. The presence of Nosema ceranae was confirmed through PCR studies.

(L) Bee Toxicity:

Monocrotophos (500 ml/acre) applied on cotton caused 100 per cent mortality upon direct exposure whereas, carbaryl (@ 1kg/acre) and endosulfan (@ 1L/acre) caused 55.5 and 66.5 per cent mortality, respectively. The fumigation effect of these insecticides were more pronounced at 24 and 48 h after spraying in which endosulfan caused higher mortality (49.03-87.0%) than in monocrotophos (38.3-49.8%).
Protection of sesame crop with insecticides is recommended before flowering (30-40 days after sowing) to safe guard the crop against the pest, Antigastra and to ensure adequate activity of the pollinators without having lethal contamination with insecticides.
In mustard cv. TS-29, it is recommended to use endosulfan if necessary control Crocidolomia In any case spraying during afternoon hours is suggested. If bees could be restricted within the hive for one day then spraying fenvalerate, 20 EC is suggested for the control of larger cabbage moth larval incidence.
Phosalone 35EC (Zolone) and Neem oil were safer to the bees visiting oilseeds and pulses.
Fluvalinate was found least toxic to bees under laboratory conditions.
Foliar application of Neem oil 2.0 per cent, Imidacloprid 0.002 per cent and Malathion 0.2 per cent on the cucurbitaceous vegetables proved to be safer to pollinators than other chemical insecticides.

BEE PRODUCTS

Honey

Apiary honeys from different source also differ in their colour storability and optical density. Drumstick, American silk cotton and mango honey with moderate moisture content of 19.5-22.5 % could be safely stored for a period of 12 months compared to honey collected from other sources. The optical density of samples from different source varied from 1058-1987 nanometers.
Honey heated in water bath at 60⁰C for 30 min and stored at 5⁰C recommended as technique for delaying honey granulation.
Honey production potential of Eucalyptus was worked out to be 11 kg whereas that of pigeon pea and B. campestris var. toria was 50 and 47.7 kg, per hectare, respectively.
Berseem honey heated at 50, 60 and 70⁰C for 5 min. did not granulate during winter season. Heating of sunflower and litchi honeys at 70⁰C and at 50⁰C for 5 m checked granulation.
Honey production potentials of two sunflower hybrids viz. MSFH-8 and PSFH-67 were calculated to be 30.10 and 31.82 kg, respectively.
Significantly the highest mean nectar secretion (8.57+1.04 mg/30 florets) was recorded in sunflower genotype DK 3849. Thus the honey production potential of DK 3849 was the highest (36.60 kg/ha) followed by SH 3322 (34.52 kg/ha).
Standardized technologies for production of honey based value added products

Bee venom

Bee venom can be extracted from the colony of Apis mellifera by bee venom extractor at fortnightly intervals during honey flow period. There should be gap between two extractions to reduce aggressiveness of the colonies.

Pollen

A simple and efficient pollen trap made up of Kail wood was designed and evaluated and it has been adopted by beekeepers for pollen collection.
For effective collection of pollen from A. mellifera through pollen trap, trapping screen with whole size of 5mm and trapping on alternate days was recommended.
Pollen collection potential studies mean monthly annual pollen collection from A. mellifera colonies was found to be 4248.3 ± 636.4 g and 2085.3 ± 241.1g per colony in Punjab.

Propolis

For the collection of propolis from mellifera, 5 mesh double plastic traps were designed. Maximum propolis of 15.97g/ A. mellifera colony was collected during July month.

Royal Jelly

Technique for extracting maximum amount of royal jelly (387.54 mg/ cup) collected was standardized.
Year round Royal jelly production technology was standardized, in which during monsoon season 90 grafts using either PVC or wax cell cups following priming in 20 BE strength on 16 combs in queen right cell builder colony was the best combination producing 2.72 g/ colony whereas during autumn Year round royal jelly production of 800 g per colony was achieved
Royal jelly can be better extractor by grafting 24 old larvae into 90-120 queen cell cups per colony employing suction after 72 hours resulted in royal jelly collection of 8.17-12.63 mg/colony.

EQUIPMENTS

A simple, cheap and light weight royal jelly collector based on water vacuum pump has been designed which works on running tap water and does not require electricity for its operation. On an average it took 3 min – 33 s. for collection of 10g of royal jelly as against 13 min. – 20 s, 5 min.-29 s by using spatula and aspirator respectively. The efficiency of royal jelly collection with the newly developed royal jelly extractor was 93.3 per cent.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

Total 40000 stakeholders were trained since inception of the project.
Monthly Beekeeping message to registered bee keepers based on information technology was developed by AICRP center of OUAT, Bhubaneswar. The information is disseminated through mobile (voice message) to the Beekeepers of the state in collaboration with Reliance Foundation, Bhubaneswar.
AICRP (HB&P) also engaged in organizing training programmes for the tribal’s on scientific bee keeping. To date 27 such training programmes have been organized benefiting 1554 tribal’s in different parts of the country.
MadhuSandesh- mobile advisory service to bee keepers -a pilot project in collaboration with KVK, Baramathi and Crop life Asia limited launched by AICRP (HB& P) to save the bees from pesticide poisoning.