Absconding Behavior and Management of Apis cerana F. Honeybee in Chitwan, Nepal

Pokhrel, S.; Thapa, R. B.; Neupane, FP; Shrestha, Sharada Ram

doi:10.3126/jiaas.v27i0.699

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…We, therefore, decided for the elephant behavior experiment to hang A. mellifera hives on the beehive fence, as during daytime this species exhibited a slightly higher defensive reaction that increased over time. Additional economic factors played a role in selecting this species for our experiment, i.e., A. mellifera produces more honey and is easier to cultivate and manage (Verma 1991), while A. cerana has a high tendency to abscond when conditions are not favorable (Pokhrel et al 2006). In fact, two of the six initial A. cerana hives that started this study absconded before and during the experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Asian elephants afraid of honeybees? Experimental studies in northern Thailand

et al. 2020

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In many parts of South and Southeast Asia, rural farmers living at the borders of protected areas frequently encounter Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) raiding their crops and threatening farmers lives and livelihoods. Traditional deterrent methods often have limited success as elephants become habituated or alternate their movement and behavior. While African bees (Apis mellifera scutellate) have been shown to effectively and sustainably deter African elephants (Loxodonta africana) little is known about their Asian counterparts. We conducted two experiments to estimate the effectiveness of bees as an Asian elephant deterrent method. We analyzed the behavioral reaction of seven captive Asian elephants when confronted with a fence of A. mellifera hives blocking their way to a desired source of food. In addition, we explored the defensive reaction of five A. cerana hives and six A. mellifera hives to an artificial disturbance during both day and night time. The elephants crossed the beehive fence in 51% of the cases, the probability of crossing increased over time and the number of exposures had a significant effect on an elephant's crossing probability, indicating that elephants became habituated to the presence of the beehive fence. In the bee experiment, only one out of five A. cerana hives and one out of six A. mellifera hives reacted to the disturbance during the daytime, while during nighttime, none of them reacted defensively after being disturbed. We, therefore, conclude that neither A. mellifera nor A. cerana bees are likely to be effective in deterring wild Asian elephants from entering crop fields.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Asian elephants afraid of honeybees? Experimental studies in northern Thailand

et al. 2020

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“…A. cerana preparing for migration (seasonal absconding) are characterised by decreasing numbers of pollen-carrying workers, greatly reduced brood feeding and rearing, and reduced predator and parasite defence [ 6 , 15 ]. In addition, honey and pollen stores, eggs, and open and closed brood decrease dramatically, leading to large changes in colony demography [ 80 , 86 , 87 ].…”

Section: Swarming and Abscondingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology, Behaviour and Control of Apis cerana with a Focus on Relevance to the Australian Incursion

Koetz¹

2013

Insects

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Apis cerana Fabricius is endemic to most of Asia, where it has been used for honey production and pollination services for thousands of years. Since the 1980s, A. cerana has been introduced to areas outside its natural range (namely New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia), which sparked fears that it may become a pest species that could compete with, and negatively affect, native Australian fauna and flora, as well as commercially kept A. mellifera and commercial crops. This literature review is a response to these concerns and reviews what is known about the ecology and behaviour of A. cerana. Differences between temperate and tropical strains of A. cerana are reviewed, as are A. cerana pollination, competition between A. cerana and A. mellifera, and the impact and control strategies of introduced A. cerana, with a particular focus on gaps of current knowledge.

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“…Rainfall may impair access, increase danger, or reduced honey availability due to migration of bee colonies. Studies suggest that A. dorsata colonies migrate seasonally between nesting sites during the transition from the rainy to dry seasons and occupy nesting sites for around three to four months (Pokhrel et al ., ;). Focus group discussions revealed that periods of low income may encourage honey hunters to harvest under less favourable conditions, such as times with low honey yields or before the honey is ripe.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of honey hunting in supporting subsistence livelihoods in Sumbawa, Indonesia

Schouten

Lloyd

Ansharyani

et al. 2019

Geographical Research

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Key insightsThe strengths of point cloud technologies can meet the requirements of rural landscape heritage documentation from a cultural landscape perspective. This approach could greatly improve the efficiency and precision of traditional rural landscape documentation, which has the potential to change the methodology of rural landscape research and management.[Correction added on 5th February 2020, after first online publication: The key insight section was included] AbstractHoney from the giant Asian honey bee (Apis dorsata) has been harvested by communities throughout Southeast Asia for centuries. In Indonesia, 80 per cent of the national supply of honey comes from Sumbawa; however, there is limited information regarding the sustainability and importance of honey hunting in supporting rural livelihoods. This study used semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to examine honey hunting and forest honey production in Sumbawa. It evaluates the economic and cultural importance, opportunities, and constraints of honey hunting and prompts us to suggest that income generation from honey plays a critical role in supporting rural communities. Of respondents, 83 per cent reported that income from honey was essential and accounts for 68 per cent of cash income. Yet honey hunters were harvesting using destructive methods under dangerous conditions and are subject to unpredictable market prices and fluctuating yields. Unlike situations in other areas of Indonesia, no system of customary law was found to exist that defines ownership of honey trees and the right to harvest from them. Limited access to market information, high moisture content of honey, and limited training and extension services were identified as key constraints. Future research exploring the sustainability of harvesting practices and mechanisms for improving profitability of honey hunters would be valuable.

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Absconding Behavior and Management of Apis cerana F. Honeybee in Chitwan, Nepal

Cited by 22 publications

References 5 publications

Are Asian elephants afraid of honeybees? Experimental studies in northern Thailand

Are Asian elephants afraid of honeybees? Experimental studies in northern Thailand

Ecology, Behaviour and Control of Apis cerana with a Focus on Relevance to the Australian Incursion

The role of honey hunting in supporting subsistence livelihoods in Sumbawa, Indonesia

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