Conservation of Giant Honey Bee (Apis dorsata F.) for Honey and Beeswax Production, and Sustainable Pollination Services

During the past quarter-century, natural populations of giant honey bee (Apis dorsata F.) have declined markedly. Loss of nesting sources is one of the many reasons for its decline. This has threatened the pollination services of several agricultural and wild plants in regions of its natural abode. For the sustainability of pollination services of the natural abode of this honey bee, its conservation has become most important. For this purpose, I designed and prepared 1 m-long, 15-cm wide, and ½ m-height wooden nesting planks. The latter were hung on the eaves/projections of university buildings to allure the migratory swarms of this honey bee. The occupancy of these planks confirmed their nesting acceptance by this honey bee. The experimental trial was laid down in four treatments that were repeated 4 times, and continued for 10 years. This honey bee accepted, occupied and nested on only those wooden planks that were treated with molten beeswax or bore the relics of beeswax, and were tightly fixed to the surface of the eaves/ building projections. The occupation and reoccupation indices revealed that this honey bee had strong site preferences. Water spray on the live colony was the most effective method for safely handling the giant honey bee; smoking proved a little less effective. Frequently disturbed colonies showed less aggressiveness than the undisturbed colonies. This study will help with the domestication, handling and conservation of this honey bee in regions of its natural habitats, where continuous removal of its nesting sources is threatening the sustainability of pollination services.