Apis mellifera (European honeybee)

Apis mellifera, the European honeybee, is an exotic species of social honeybee that became the dominant managed honeybee in Indian commercial apiculture after its successful introduction in the 1960s. It produces around 70-75% of India's national honey output and is the species most associated with crop pollination services on horticultural farms.

Origin and distribution

Earlier attempts at introduction date back to 1880, but the species was successfully established in India in 1962 by Professor A. S. Atwal at Punjab Agricultural University, with viable colonies recorded by 1964. Commercial colonies are now widely distributed across the northern and peninsular plains, with major populations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Morphology and biology

Apis mellifera is larger than the native Apis cerana indica, forms perennial colonies of tens of thousands of workers, and nests in cavities. It builds multiple vertically arranged combs, which makes it well suited to movable-frame hive management (see Langstroth Hive Box).

Performance

Each managed colony yields about 25-35 kg of honey per year in the plains. In well-foraged northern apiaries, including those operated migratorily, stationary or migratory colonies record 50-60 kg per colony per year. The Indian honey industry's commercial scale is built largely on this species; the All India Coordinated Research Project on Honey Bees and Pollinators (ICAR) and the Central Bee Research and Training Institute, Pune lead research and extension.

Management

Standard practice uses ISI 'B' Type Langstroth boxes with 10 frames, queenright colonies and seasonal supering during honey flows. Disease management focuses on varroa mite, tracheal mite, European foulbrood and wax moth (see Apiary Management Commercial).

References

AICRP on Honeybees & Pollinators. ICAR.
Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee. Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Apiculture: Types of Honey Bee. TNAU agritech portal.