Apiculture

Apiculture

Defination of Apiculture

Rearing and management of honey bees for commercial production of honey and other products of the beehive.

More About Apiculture

  • Apiculture is also called beekeeping
  • The scientific name of honey bee, i.e Apis mellifera (European wild beee),
  • Apisdorsata (Giant/Rock bee), Apiscerana ( Asiatic or Eastern bee) and Apisflorae (The little bee)
  • “Apis” is the genus of the honey bee and hence the name “Apiculture”
  • The place where the honey bees are reared is called a “bee yard” or an “Apiary”
  • The person who takes care of the Apiary is known as ‘Apiarist’
  • The honey bee basically collects pollen and nectar
  • Pollen provides the honeybee with the protein required for their development and breeding purpose
  • The nectar provides with the energy requirement of the honey bees
  • The honey bees are of three types as follows
    • A) Queen bee: The biggest and the only fertile female in the honey comb that can reproduce
      B) Drones: Fertile male bees in the honey comb capable of reproduction
      C) Worker bee: Sterile female bees not capable for reproduction.

The important products of bee hive are as follows:

1) Honey:

- It is good food with vitamins, sugars.
- It is antiseptic and blood purifier
- It is used to treat gastric problems

2) Bee Venom:

- Its is poisonous and is also known as Apitoxin
- It is used in treatment of arthritis
- For desensitizing people allergic to bee stings.

3) Bee wax:

- It is used by the honbey bees as a foundation for sealing large spaces in honey comb
- It is used in shoe and furniture polishes
- It is also used in candle making.

4) Propolis:

- It is a resinous substance collected by bees from the tree sap
- It is used to seal the small gaps in the honey comb
- It has wound healing, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

5) Royal jelly :

- It is mainly used for the nutrition and development of the Queen bees
- It is used as medicine for ulcers, asthma, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms
- It is also used in skin care and cosmetics.

Dictionaries