Hone bee Life cycle Apis mellifera Apis Dorsata Apis carana Apis florae in Pakistan

1. LIFE CYCLELIFE CYCLE
All the castes pass through 3 developmentalAll the castes pass through 3 developmental
stages i.e. Egg, larva, pupastages i.e. Egg, larva, pupa

2. Apis melliferaApis mellifera
EggEgg
(days)(days)
LarvaLarva PupaPupa TotalTotal
daysdays
A.dorsataA.dorsata
Total daysTotal days
QueenQueen 33 5.55.5 7.57.5 1616 13-13.513-13.5
WorkersWorkers 33 6.06.0 12.012.0 2121 16-2016-20
DronesDrones 33 6.56.5 14.514.5 2424 20-23.520-23.5

3. SPECIES OF HONEY BEESPECIES OF HONEY BEE
Apis dorsataApis dorsata FF..
• Commonly known “Doomna”.Commonly known “Doomna”.
• Found in plains and sub-mountain tractsFound in plains and sub-mountain tracts
• Migratory in habit prone to excessive swarming.Migratory in habit prone to excessive swarming.
• Migration depends upon climate and bee plants.Migration depends upon climate and bee plants.
It usually visits plains in March-April and leavesIt usually visits plains in March-April and leaves
them in June.them in June.
• It builds single comb measuring 2 m in lengthIt builds single comb measuring 2 m in length
and 3/4 in breadth.and 3/4 in breadth.
• Generally suspended on the branches of tallGenerally suspended on the branches of tall
trees and occasionally from rocks.trees and occasionally from rocks.

4. • Industrious species yield 80 lbIndustrious species yield 80 lb
honey/year/colony.honey/year/colony.
• Very easily provoked and attacks on human andVery easily provoked and attacks on human and
animals with fatal results.animals with fatal results.
• Responds to smoke very well but on account ofResponds to smoke very well but on account of
migratory behavior wild habit ferociousmigratory behavior wild habit ferocious
temperament it is not fit for domestication.temperament it is not fit for domestication.
• It builds single comb suspended on theIt builds single comb suspended on the
branches of tall trees and occasionally frombranches of tall trees and occasionally from
rocksrocks

5. Apis floraeApis florae F (Little HoneyF (Little Honey
Bee)Bee)
• (Choti Makhi), restricted to plains of the country(Choti Makhi), restricted to plains of the country
• It is also wild in nature and prone to swarming.It is also wild in nature and prone to swarming.
• It builds single comb in bushes, hedges, twigs,It builds single comb in bushes, hedges, twigs,
stacked cotton sticks.stacked cotton sticks.
• A single comb measures 30 cm and 15 cm inA single comb measures 30 cm and 15 cm in
breadth.breadth.
• It is gentle in temperament but poor in yield 0.5-It is gentle in temperament but poor in yield 0.5-
1kg.1kg.
• It is not suitable for domestication.It is not suitable for domestication.

6. Apis ceranaApis cerana F (EasternF (Eastern
Honey bee).Honey bee).
• Pahari makhi.Pahari makhi.
• Hilly and northeren regions of country Muree, HazaraHilly and northeren regions of country Muree, Hazara
and Sawat hills,and Sawat hills,
• Swat strains has produced better results.Swat strains has produced better results.
• Parallel comb in the cavities of tree trunks, hollows ofParallel comb in the cavities of tree trunks, hollows of
rocks and walls of houses specially prepared by theirrocks and walls of houses specially prepared by their
dwellers.dwellers.
• Excessive swarming, robbing, absconding.Excessive swarming, robbing, absconding.
• Industrious and docile fit for keeping in modern hives.Industrious and docile fit for keeping in modern hives.
• Yield 4 kg per acre, 10 kg modern hives.Yield 4 kg per acre, 10 kg modern hives.

7. 4.4. Apis mellifera L.Apis mellifera L.
• Domesticated honey bee.Domesticated honey bee.
• Closely resemblesClosely resembles A. ceranaA. cerana in body structurein body structure
habits and behavior but surely separate species.habits and behavior but surely separate species.
• All efforts have been failed to cross.All efforts have been failed to cross.
• Good honey yielder and good pollinator.Good honey yielder and good pollinator.
• Less prone to swarming, absconding andLess prone to swarming, absconding and
robbing.robbing.
• 25 kg/years.25 kg/years.
• Imported 1973.Imported 1973.

8. BEE KEEPING EQUIPMENTSBEE KEEPING EQUIPMENTS
• Aims of Modern Bee keepingAims of Modern Bee keeping
• Protection of bees against abnormalProtection of bees against abnormal
weathers.weathers.
• Facilitating capacity for gathering andFacilitating capacity for gathering and
storing large quantities of honey.storing large quantities of honey.
• Obtaining pure honey without hamperingObtaining pure honey without hampering
their activitiestheir activities

9. BEE HIVESBEE HIVES
• 10 frame moveable Langstorth bee hive10 frame moveable Langstorth bee hive
Langstroth in 1851Langstroth in 1851
• In Pak since long.In Pak since long.
• A two storey bee hive consists ofA two storey bee hive consists of
• Stand , bottom board , brood chamber , superStand , bottom board , brood chamber , super
inner cover and top cover.inner cover and top cover.
• Hive frame is rectangular in shape andHive frame is rectangular in shape and
consists of one top bar , two side bars and oneconsists of one top bar , two side bars and one
bottom barbottom bar

10. • Comb Foundation MillComb Foundation Mill
• ToTo make combs with hexagonal cells tomake combs with hexagonal cells to
avoid labour of workersavoid labour of workers
• With bases of worker cells embossedWith bases of worker cells embossed
with help of comb foundation mill.with help of comb foundation mill.

11. • Protective DressProtective Dress
An overall bee veil and gloves protectionAn overall bee veil and gloves protection
from honeybee stings during hivefrom honeybee stings during hive
manipulationmanipulation
• Hive toolHive tool
Used for separating hive frames , toUsed for separating hive frames , to
separate hive parts for scrapping framesseparate hive parts for scrapping frames
and bottom board of waste materialand bottom board of waste material

12. • Queen handling equipmentsQueen handling equipments
• Queen excluderQueen excluder
– Does not allow the queen to move from oneDoes not allow the queen to move from one
chamber to otherchamber to other
• Queen introducing cageQueen introducing cage
– Used to introduce queenUsed to introduce queen

13. • Honey BEE FloraHoney BEE Flora
• 5 major honey flows in a year from different5 major honey flows in a year from different
sources :-sources :-
• Toria, Sarsoon, Loquat (Nov-Feb)Toria, Sarsoon, Loquat (Nov-Feb)
• Citrus (March)Citrus (March)
• Shishum, Mesquite and Phulai (April-May)Shishum, Mesquite and Phulai (April-May)
• Berseem (April-June), Shain (Sep-Oct)Berseem (April-June), Shain (Sep-Oct)
• Note:-Note:-These are used by stronger colonies forThese are used by stronger colonies for
surplus honey collectionsurplus honey collection