ABSTRACT

The red dwarf honey bee (Apis florea) is one of two basal species in genus Apis. Apis florea differs from the two native giant honeybees, Apis laboriosa and Apis dorsata, in Nepal. A. florea colonies are commonly found in southern parts of Nepal. In one survey, the author recorded 15 new geographical distributions of A. florea in Nepal. The highest elevation of A. florea colonies was recorded in the Khotang district (2,250 m) in the eastern part of Nepal. A. florea colonies are present in the Khotang district, especially in the spring (February-March). The author’s finding of A. florea nests in the Kotang district indicates that this species is gradually expanding to high mountainous areas of Nepal.