Beneficial Insects

1. Course In-Charge
Mr.S.Srinivasnaik
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
Lecture No.5
BEE PASTURAGE, BEE FORAGING AND COMMUNICATION. HONEY
EXTRACTION, BEE PRODUCTS AND THEIR USES
ENTO 332 (1+1):Management of Beneficial Insects

3. BEE PASTURAGE
Honey bees have close link with flora because they live solely on
nectar and pollen. To maximize the honey production, bee keeper
should have a thorough knowledge of floral cycle, on set of major
honey flow and dearth periods

4. The wild and cultivated flora which are sources of pollen and nectar to the honey
bees are collectively called as bee pasturage or bee flora or bee forage. In
addition to pollen and nectar, the bees also collect propolis, a resinous substance
exuded by buds, leaves and other parts of various trees and shrubs. The period
when a good number of plants providing nectar and pollen are available to bees
is called honey flow period. If the nectar yield is copious from a good number of
plants of a particular species, it is called major honey flow period. The days when
there is no honey flow is called the dearth period. As nectar and pollen are basic
raw materials for bee keeping, a thorough knowledge of the bee flora of a locality
is essential. Bee keepers showed plan for maximum colony population to coincide
with the major honey flow for maximum honey and pollination. Bees depend on a
wide variety of plants which includes wild and cultivated plants

5. PLANTS-NECTAR
Tamarind (Tamarindus indicus) (rich source), Neem (Azadirachta
indica), Soap nut (Sapindum spp.), Eucalyptus spp., Pungam
(Pongamia glabra), Morinda tinctoria, Prosopis spicigera,
Quisqualis indica, Legasca mollis, Tribulus terrestris, Glyricidia
maculata

6. PLANTS-POLLEN
Sorghum (rich source), maize, roses, bajra, finger millet,
pomegranate, sweet potato, tobacco, castor, tea etc.

7. PLANTS-POLLEN
Banana, citrus, apple, pear, plum, peach, guava, mango, coconut,
sesamum, safflower, mustard, cruciferous and cucurbitaceous
vegetables, bhendi, onion, Lucern, clover, hollyhock, aster, Cassia
fistula, cotton (very rich source).

8. PLANTS-POLLEN
Banana, citrus, apple, pear, plum, peach, guava, mango, coconut,
sesamum, safflower, mustard, cruciferous and cucurbitaceous
vegetables, bhendi, onion, Lucern, clover, hollyhock, aster, Cassia
fistula, cotton (very rich source).

9. OTHER CROPS
Fruit Crops: Citrus, litchi, apple, peach, guava, jamun, tamarind,
date palm, coconut palm, phalsa, cashew, etc.
Vegetables: Cucurbits, pea s, okra, beans, radish, onion, brinjal,
sweet potato.
Timber trees: Soapnut, Acacia, neem, eucalyptus, mahua, sandal
wood, etc.
Ornamental plants: Wild rose, cosmos, golden rod, poinsesttia,
cocal creeper, honey-suckle, dandelion, etc

10. FORAGING
Bee foraging refers to collection of nectar and pollen by the Honeybees.
The field bees or forager bees get activated in the morning by about 7or 8
a.m. depending upon the sunshine and temperature, go out on foraging and
collect pollen, nectar,propolis and water, carry them to the hive and deposit.
Bees make a number of trips till sunset. They are capable of flying at a speed
of 25 to 30km per hour. The bees are most active in foraging within
temperature range of 25 to 27 oC. The forager bees can be classified into two
categories-
•Scout bees or searcher bees which search for the best food resource and
reticent bees in general, range from 40–90%of the total forager bees
population, which wait in the bee hive until the scout bees return and give
them information about the food source by definite patterns of dancing

11. BEE COMMUNICATION

13. HONEY EXTRACTION
Honey extraction: When the honey flow begins to slow down, the frames
with honey should be removed for extraction. To remove honey comb, the
colony is smoked, the desired combs taken out and bees brushed off with a
soft brush or leaves. These combs are placed in tight hive bodies, carried to
the extraction room. A room with wire gauged bee tight doors is necessary
for honey extraction. Frames should be uncapped with a hot knife. The
uncapped frames should be placed in extractor and rotated slowly and then
at a faster speed. Then the frames are reversed and extraction is again
worked. Finally, honey collected in the container is strained and packed in
tins or bottles. After the extraction, the place should be swabbed with water
and the appliances cleaned. The empty wet combs should be returned to
the hives for bees for cleaning and reuse.

14. • Frames with fully ripened honey removed
• Colony is smoked & Bees brushed off
• Place combs in tight hive bodies
• Carry frames to Extraction room
• Un cap cells with hot uncapping knife
• Place Uncapped frames in Extractor
Un cap cells with
hot uncapping
knife
• Rotate Extractor slowly & Then faster
• Reverse frames
Place Uncapped
frames in Extractor
• Collect honey & Strained & Bottled
• Empty wet combs reused

15. World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20. On this day Anton
Janša, the pioneer of modern beekeeping, was born in 1734
in Slovenia. The purpose of the international day is to
acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the
ecosystem. The United Nations General Assembly in New
York unanimously adopted a decision proclaiming 20 May
World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. Every year on this
day, the attention of the global public will be drawn to the
importance of preserving bees and other pollinators. People
will be reminded of the importance of bees for the entire
humanity and invited to take concrete action to preserve and
protect them. The resolution was co-sponsored by 115 UN
Member States, including the USA, Canada, China, the
Russian Federation, India, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and all
the European Union Member States

21. REFERENCES:
•Abrol, D.P.2010. Bees and Bee keeping in India. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. Pp450
•David, B.V and Kumara Swami, T. 2016. Elements of Economic Entomology, Popular Book
Depot, Madras. Pp536
•Ganga, G and Sulochana Chetty, J. 2008. An introduction to sericulture. Oxford and IBH
Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp160
•Gautam, R.D.2008. Biological Pest Suppression
•Ghorai, N. 1995. Lac culture in India. International Books & Periodicals Supply Service.
•Jolly, M.S. 1987. Appropriate sericulture techniques . International center for training and
research in tropical sericulture, Mysore. Pp209
•Krishnaswami, S., Narasimma, M.N., Suryanarayan, S.K and Kumararaj,S. 1995. Silkworm
Rearing. Sericulture Manual 2. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp150
•Mishra, R.C.1995. Honeybees and their management in India. ICAR, New Delhi.
•Patnaik, R.K.2008. Mulberry Cultivation
•Rangaswami, G., Narasimhanna, M.N., Kasiviswanatham, K., Sastry, C.R and Jolly, M.S. 1995.
Mulberry Cultivation. Sericulture Manual 2. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd.,New Delhi.
Pp150
•Sailesh Chattopadhyay. 2011. Introduction to lac and lac culture. Tech. Bulletin.FBTI:01/2011
•Abrol, D.P.2010. Bees and Bee keeping in India. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. Pp450
•David, B.V and Kumara Swami, T. 2016. Elements of Economic Entomology, Popular Book
Depot, Madras. Pp536
•Ganga, G and Sulochana Chetty, J. 2008. An introduction to sericulture. Oxford and IBH
Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp160
•Gautam, R.D.2008. Biological Pest Suppression

22. MARKS ALLOTMENT
1. Mid semester Examination : 50M
2. Final Practical Examination : 25M
3. Class Work : 25M
Record: 10M
Observation Notes: 5M
Attendance: 3M
Discipline and attentive and answering: 2M
Internal Tests: 5M
4. Assignment : 25M
Power Point Presentation:10M
Model preparation:5M
Photo frame/Laminations :5M
Internal Write ups:5M

23. “Strive hard to make farming profitable and sustainable for the prosperous Nation”