Apiculture or Bee-keeping
Apiculture is the practice of rearing honeybees for honey and wax. It is a low-cost activity that provides extra income to farmers.
Apiary:
An apiary is a place where beehives are kept for large-scale honey production. Honey and wax are both commercially valuable.
Steps in setting up an apiary:
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Site selection: Choose a dry place with water and plenty of flowering plants.
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Beehive selection: Use wooden or plastic hives with frames for honeycomb.
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Bee variety: Select bees from natural nests or buy colonies with a queen.
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Colony care: Feed sugar syrup when nectar is less.
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Honey extraction: Use a smoker and extractor to collect honey.
Common bee varieties:
- Apis cerana indica – Indian bee
- Apis dorsata – Rock bee
- Apis florae – Little bee
- Apis mellifera – Italian bee
Different species of bees
Italian Bee (A. mellifera):
Apis mellifera (Italian bee) is preferred for commercial honey production. It produces more honey, stings less, stays longer in one hive, and has a high breeding rate
Bee types in a hive:
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Queen: Lays eggs and maintains colony population.
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Drones: Male bees that fertilize the queen.
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Workers: Collect nectar, build combs, guard hives.
Honey quality:
Depends on flower type and pollen availability.