ABSTRACT
The red dwarf honeybee (Apis florea Fabricius, 1787) is a widely distributed species found throughout South East Asia, India and parts of the Middle East. It is an open-air nester, building a single comb, approximately 20–30 cm in diameter, on branches of shrubs and small trees. Apis florea colonies build their nests in a diverse range of habitats, from woodlands to savannah, urban and disturbed landscapes to areas where intensive agriculture is practiced. Colonies do not usually remain in the same location throughout the year but continually move to follow floral resources. Throughout Thailand, wild honeybee colonies are harvested by honey hunters; therefore, managing/keeping A. florea colonies in situ provides an opportunity for a sustainable alternative. Apis florea colonies can build their nests extremely rapidly and start to produce capped honey on the eighth day of nest construction; the honey crown reaches maturity approximately two months later. Various species of flora can be planted sequentially, providing colonies with sufficient resources, thereby enhancing sustainable A. florea beekeeping and increasing the total amount of honey yielded to four-and-a-half times greater than that of the conventional honey-hunting method. The benefits of A. florea with regards to pollination are discussed at both local and ecosystem levels. In order to maintain A. florea populations within agricultural landscapes, the conservation and management of sufficient foraging resources need to be further developed.
