The document presents an overview of honeybee biology, including classifications of various species like Apis dorsata, Apis cerana indica, Apis florea, and Apis mellifera, highlighting their characteristics, habitats, and honey production. It describes their social structure, behavior, and their importance in pollination and agriculture. Additionally, it mentions stingless bees and outlines the different sizes and honey yields of the species discussed.

1. Presented
by
Dr. Arun B. Sawarkar
1. Bee Biology
B.P. Arts, S.M.A. Science & K.K.C. Commerce
College, Chalisgaon, Dist- Jalgaon (MS)
(Honeybee species)

2. Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Division: Endopterygota
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Apis
Species: i) dorsata ii) cerana iii) florea iv) mellifera
(Exoskeleton, jointed appendages)
(Body-head, thorax and abdomen, paired wings and
three pairs of legs)
(one or two pairs of wings)
(Life cycle stages- Egg, larva, pupa and adult,
Ex: Butterfly, beetle, honeybee)
(Membranous wings, Forewings larger than hind
wings, coupling apparatus, Ex: Ants, Bees & wasps)
(Social bees Ex: honeybees, bumblebees)
Classification

3.  Honey bees are worldwide in distribution.
 They are highly organized social insects living in colonies.
 They are known for their art of manufacturing honey and bee-wax.
 They are active throughout the year but winter season they do little
work and do not rear the brood.
 They exhibit polymorphism and good division of labour.
 The worker communicates to the other workers by performing dances
known as dance language of the bees.
Habit and habitats

4. 1. Apis dorsata (Rock- bee)
• It is the largest honeybee (Size of worker bee 17-20 mm).
• The body generally reddish brown in colour with golden,
black and pale bands on the abdomen.
• It builds single large vertical comb on high branches of
trees and rocks.
• Each colony consists of about 60,000-1,00,000 worker.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwwssn
comphotos/5702725213
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkar
• It is efficient pollinator and honey producer bee.
• They produce about 27-40 Kg honey per comb per year.
• It is ferocious in nature, stings severely causing fever.

5. 2. Apis cerana indica (Indian bee)
• It is medium sized bee and measures about 14-15 mm.
• The body generally yellowish brown and have more
prominent even black bands across the entire abdomen.
• The colony consists of 7-8 parallel combs builds in dark
places like cavities of tree Trunks, rocks crevices, caves or
even house cavities.
• The average honey yield is about 6-8 kg per colony/ year.
• A colony may consists of about 2,000-15,000 individuals.
• This bee is little ferocious but can easily domesticated.
• It is very popular for pollination in the agriculture field.
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkar
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwwssnc
omphotos/5702725213

6. 3. Apis florea (The little bee)
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkarhttps://deinsectos.org/abejas/apis-
florea/
 It is commonly known as little bee or red dwarf bee
due to its small size (about 7-10 mm).
 The body is generally red-brown in colour with white and
black bands on the abdomen.
 They build a single vertical combs in branches of bushes,
hedges, buildings, caves, empty cases etc.
 Each colony may consists of about 800- 3000 individuals.
 They produce around 300 to 800 gm of honey per hive per
year.
 The honey has demand due to the medicinal properties.

7. 4. Apis mellifera (The European bee)
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkar
• It is the medium-sized honeybees and size 14-16 mm.
• It is red/brown in colour with black bands and orange yellow
rings on abdomen.
• The colony consists of many parallel combs builds in dark
places such as cavities of tree trunks, within rocks, trees.
• A colony consists of typically 30,000-1,00,000 honeybees.
• It is highly popular and domesticated for agriculture field
because of high pollination rate.
• The average honey production per colony is about 25-60
kg/year.

8. 5. Dammer bees (stingless bees)
 Two species of stingless bees, i.e. Melipona and Trigona occur
in India.
 These bees are smallest honeybee (size 3 to 4 mm).
 They build irregular combs of wax and resinous substances in
crevices and hollow tree trunks.
 Colony size ranges between 100-1500 individuals per hive.
 They are good pollinators for various food crops.
 The honey yield per hive per year is about 300 to 1200 gm.
 The honey is dark and bitter and has high medicinal value.
 It is an excellent domesticated species, easily hived and rarely
absconds the nest.
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkar
Photograph by Dr. Arun Sawarkar

9. THANKS
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