ABSTRACT
Apis florea F. is one of two dwarf honeybee species recognized as valuable indigenous pollinators throughout their Asian range. Additionally, dwarf honeybees, especially the brood, are widely consumed as part of the entomophagic culture of South East Asia. Feral colonies are extensively harvested both for the honey and brood. There is, however, little to no information available on the nutritional value of dwarf honeybees. In this chapter, we intend to establish the nutritional content – i.e., protein, fat, amino acids, fatty acids and minerals – of different developmental stages of dwarf honeybees collected in Thailand. Analyses follow the standard methodology of AOAC and the Korean Food Standard Codex. We anticipate that the results will help in understanding the prospect of dwarf honeybees in sustainable food systems.
