Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Honeybees and Beekeeping: The Global Scenario

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Arthropod Diversity and Conservation in the Tropics and Sub-tropics

Abstract

Diversity of geographical features particularly in the tropics and subtropics plays a key role in determining the topography, climate, and plant species of the region. Such regions provide abundant opportunities for both migratory and non migratory beekeeping. Current agricultural transformation, once linked to apicultural operations, offers much scope for income generation from beekeeping. Till now only 10 % of the existing potential has been utilized. For instance, India has a potential to keep about 120 million bee colonies that can provide self-employment to over 6 million rural and tribal families. In terms of production, these bee colonies can produce over 1.2 million tonnes of honey and about 15,000 tonnes of beeswax. Organized collection of forest honey and beeswax using improved methods can result in an additional production of at least 120,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes of honey and beeswax, respectively. Thus, it is expected to generate income of worth satisfying needs of five million tribal families. The present global status as well as future strategies for conservation of beekeeping is discussed in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrol DP (1993) Honeybee – virus infection and immunity. Korean J Apic 8(2):116–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP (1997) Bees and beekeeping in India. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, p 450

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP (2001) Import – export policy of honey bees and other pollinators. Indian Bee J 63(3 & 4):55–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP (2007) Honeybee and rapeseed – a pollinator plant interaction. In: Dr Gupta SK (ed) Advances in botanical research: rapeseed breeding, vol 45. Elsevier, London, pp 339–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP (2009a) Bees and beekeeping in India, 2nd edn. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, p 720

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP (2009b) Discovery of a bacterial and nosema disease in honeybee Apis cerana colonies in Jammu, India. In: 2nd international beekeeping congress August 19–21, 2008, Thimphu, Bhutan

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP, Kakroo SK (1997) Observations on concurrent parasitism by mites on four honeybees species in India. Trop Agric 74(2):150–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP, Kakroo SK (2003) Pests, predators and pathogens of honeybee Apis mellifera L.in Jammu, India. In: Conservation and management of bees for sustainable development and APIEXPO-2003 held at Bangalore University, Bangalore from 13–18, October, 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP, Khan AA (2002) Characterization of ecotypes of Indian honeybee Apis cerana F in the northwest Himalayas. Korean J Apic 17(1):13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP, Sharma D (2007) Morphogenic and toxic effects of some pesticides on honeybees, Apis mellifera L brood. J Res SKUAST J 6(2):144–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrol DP, Sharma D (2009) Honeybee mites and their management, 1st edn. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, p 200

    Google Scholar 

  • Agrawal TJ (2014) Beekeeping industry in India: future potential. Int J Res Appl Nat Soc Sci 2(7):133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Allsopp MH, de Lange WJ, Veldtman R (2008) Valuing insect pollination services with cost of replacement. PLoS One 3:e3128

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Altieri MA, Nicholls CI (2004) Biodiversity and pest management in agroecosystems, 2nd edn. The Haworth Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrionuevo A (2007) Bees vanish, and scientists race for reasons. The New York Times. April, 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Batra SWT (1995) Solitary bees for blueberry pollination. In: Proceedings of the 7th southeastern blueberry conference, Savannah, USA, pp 69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchmann SL, Nabhan GP (1996) The forgotten pollinators. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Chahal BS, Brar HS, Gatoria GS, Jhajj HS (1995) Italian honeybees and their management. Punjab agricultural university, Ludhiana, p 116

    Google Scholar 

  • Chhuneja PK, Gatoria GS, Aulakh RK, Singh J, Garcha S (2002) Surveillance of Apis. mellifera Linn. colonies for bee diseases and enemies in the Punjab (India). Paper presented at 6th International Conference and World Apiexpo-2002, pp 133–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi SY (1984) Brief report on the status of Korean beekeeping. In: Proceedings of the expert consultation beekeep. Apis mellifera. Tropical Sub-tropical Asia. FAO, Rome, pp 170–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane E (1990) Bees and beekeeping: science, practice and world resources. Heinemann, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane E (1999) The world history of beekeeping and honey hunting. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhaliwal GS, Atwal AS (1970) Interspecific relations between Apis cerana indica and Apis mellifera. J Apic Res 9:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diwan VV, Salvi SR (1965) Some interesting behavioural features of Apis dorsata Fab. Indian Bee J 27(1):52

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO Prod STAT (1997–2007) http://faostat.fao.org

  • Free JB (1993) Insect pollination of crops. Academic, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansen CA (1977) Pesticides and pollination. Annu Rev Entomol 22:177–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen CA, Mayer DF (1990) Pollinator protection: a bee and pesticide handbook. Wicwas Press, Cheshire

    Google Scholar 

  • Kevan PG (1977) Blueberry crops in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick – pesticides and crop reductions. Can J Agric Econ 25:61–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kevan PG (2001) In: Stubbs CS, Drummond FA (eds) Bees and crop pollination: crisis, crossroads, conservation. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, pp 7–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein AM, Vaissiere BE, Cane JH, Steffan-Dewenter I, Cunningham SA, Kremen C, Tscharntke T (2007) Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 274:303–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koeniger N (1976) Interspecific competition between Apis florea and Apis mellifera in the tropics. Bee World 57:110–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koeniger N, Vorwohl G (1979) Competition for food among four sympatric species of Apini in Sri Lanka (Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, and Trigona iridipennis). J Apic Res 18:95–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kshirsagar KK (1983) Morphometric studies on the Indian hive bee Apis cerana indica F. I-morphometric characters useful in identification of intraspecific taxa. In: Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on apiculture in tropical climates, New Delhi, pp 254–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Kshirsagar KK, Chauhan RM (1977) Preliminary observations on oviposition behaviour in Trigona (Tetragona) iridipennis Smith. Indian Bee J 39:22–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews F (2010) Planetary collapse disorder: the honeybee as portent of the limits of the ethical. Environ Ethics 32(4):351–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse RA, Calderone NW (2000) The value of honey bees as pollinators of U.S. crops in 2000. Bee Cult 128:2–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Neto NP (1949) Notas bionomicas sobre meliponineos. II. Sobre a pilhagem. Papeis Avulsos do depto. De Zoologia da Secr Agr Do Est De São Paulo, pp 13–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldroyd BP (2007) What’s killing American honey bees? Publ Libr Sci Biol 5:e168. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0050168

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker FD (1981) How efficient are bees in pollinating sunflowers? J Kansas Entomol Soc 54(1):61–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Partap U (2003) Cash crop farming in the Himalayas: the importance of pollinator management and managed pollination. Case Study No.:10. In: Biodiversity and the ecosystem approach in agriculture, forestry. http://fao.org///docrep/005/y4586e11.htm

  • Phadke RP (1968) Studies on Indian honeys. Proximate composition and physico-chemical characteristics of honeys from the wild honeybees, Apis dorsata, Apis florea and Trigona. Indian Bee J 30:3–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phadke RP, Nair KS, Nandekar KU (1969) Indian beeswaxes. I Their physico-chemical constants. Indian Bee J 31:52–55

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pugh BM (1947) Varieties of bees found in Assam (Extract form the report of the Assistant Agriculture Officer, North East Frontier Agency, Assam on “Agriculture in the Mynner (Jirang) state, Khasi Hills, Assam”). Ind Bee J 9:62

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen C (2013) Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) of the Indian subcontinent: diversity, taxonomy and current status of knowledge. Zootaxa 3647(3):401–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ricketts TH, Daily GC, Ehrlich PR, Michener CD (2004) Economic value of tropical forest to coffee production. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(34):12579–12582

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ruttner F (1988) Biogeography and taxonomy of honeybees. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sakai T (1992) Apis cerana beekeeping in Japan. In: Verma LR (ed) Honeybees in mountain agriculture. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp 235–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh S (1962) Beekeeping in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh Y (1979) Pollination activity on strawberry at Jeolikote. (Distt. Nainital, India). Indian Bee J 41:17–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickler K, Cane JH (2003) For non-native crops, whence pollinators of the future? Thomas Say Publications in Entomology. Entomological Society of America, Lanham

    Google Scholar 

  • Suryanarayan MC (2002) Bees of India. http://www.manadasofpune5.homestead.com/BeesIndia.html. Accessed Dec 2002

  • Thompson H, Ball R, Brown M, Bew M (2003) Varroa destructor resistance to pyrethroid treatments in the United Kingdom. Bull Insectology 56:175–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood RM, van Engelsdorp D (2007) Colony collapse disorder: have we seen this before? Bee Cult 135:13–15

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2010) UNEP emerging issues: global honey bee colony disorder and other threats to insect pollinators. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma LR (1992) Honeybees in mountain agriculture. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi, p 274

    Google Scholar 

  • Vijayakumar K, Jeyaraaj R (2014) Taxonomic notes on Trigona (Tetragonula) iridipennis Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from India. J Threatened Taxa 6(11):6480–6484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakhle DM, Pal N (2000) Honey and hive products in India – present status. In: Proceedings of the 7th international conference on tropical bees: management and diversity and 5th AAA conference, held 19–25 March 2000 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. International Bee Research Association, Cardiff

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker P, Crane E (2000) The history of beekeeping in English Gardens. Garden Hist 28(2):231–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerkamp C (1991) Honeybees are poor pollinators – why? P I Syst Evol 177:71–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams IH (2002) The EU regulatory framework for GM crops in relation to bees. Bee World 83:24–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhen-Ming J, Guanhang Y, Shuangxiu H, Shikui L, Zaijin R (1992) The advancement of apicultural science and technology in China. In: Verma LR (ed) Honeybees in mountain agriculture. Oxford/IBH Publishing Co Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, pp 133–147

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology FOA, Chatha, 18009, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India

    D. P. Abrol & Uma Shankar

  2. Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hessarghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru, 560089, Karnataka, India

    K. S. Nitin

  3. ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, 753 006, Odisha, India

    G. Basana Gowda

Authors
  1. D. P. Abrol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Uma Shankar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. S. Nitin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Basana Gowda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. P. Abrol .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Akshay Kumar Chakravarthy

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Shakunthala Sridhara

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Abrol, D.P., Shankar, U., Nitin, K.S., Gowda, G.B. (2016). Honeybees and Beekeeping: The Global Scenario. In: Chakravarthy, A., Sridhara, S. (eds) Arthropod Diversity and Conservation in the Tropics and Sub-tropics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1518-2_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation