Difference between revisions of "Discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of beekeeping with A. mellifera and A. cerana in Indonesia"
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| − | '''Indonesia:''' There is a lack of data about beekeeping with ''[[A. mellifera]]'' in Indonesia, allthough it is reported, that beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee ''[[A. cerana]]'' decreased. A survey revealed that the remaining percentage of ''A. cerana'' in comparison to the introduced ''A. mellifera'' in Indonesia lays between 45 - 60% ([[Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016]]). In Asia, beekeepers believe in the advantage of beekeeping with ''A. mellifera'', thus the trend to give up the beekeeping with ''A. cerana'' and switch to ''A. mellifera'' instead | + | '''Indonesia:''' There is a lack of data about beekeeping with ''[[A. mellifera]]'' in Indonesia, allthough it is reported, that beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee ''[[A. cerana]]'' decreased. A survey revealed that the remaining percentage of ''A. cerana'' in comparison to the introduced ''A. mellifera'' in Indonesia lays between 45 - 60% ([[Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016]]). In Asia, beekeepers believe in the advantage of beekeeping with ''A. mellifera'', thus the trend to give up the beekeeping with ''A. cerana'' and switch to ''A. mellifera'' increases instead. This practice leads to decreasing honey bee diversity and in further consequence it is possible that native species are replacement in the ecological niche which they occupy (e.g. in Bhutan the beekeeping with the Asian honey bee decreased by 95%) (Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016). |
| − | Nevertheless, there are several advantages of ''A. mellifera'' compared to ''A. cerana''. The colony size of A. mellifera ranges from 30000 - 50000 (i.e. colony size of ''A. cerana'' | + | Nevertheless, there are several advantages of ''A. mellifera'' compared to ''A. cerana''. The start up costs for hives that are suitable for beekeeping with A. mellifera are low. The colony size of ''A. mellifera'' ranges from 30000 - 50000 (i.e. colony size of ''A. cerana'' ranges from 2000 - 20000), they have higher productivity and therefore the harvesting of honey bee products is more profitable. ''A. cerana'' has a high tendency to abscond (triggered by tropical climate, pressure of pathogens/pests/predators, and insufficient forage-opportunities). ''A. cerana'' is also known to be more sensitive to Thai Sac Brood Virus. Due to the higher aggressivness of ''A. mellifera'', they are often successfull in robbing honey from ''A. cerana'', which leads in damaging their colonies (Oldroyd & Nanork 2009; Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016). Studies revealed, that ''A. mellifera'' and ''A. cerana'' drones are attracted by similar pheromones secreted by the particular queen. Though, the mating between species is not possible due to incompatible organs, ''A. cerana'' colony size is significantly lower and therefore they are less able to complement high drone losses (Moritz & Härtel 2005; Ruttner & Maul 1983). |
| − | The question is, regarding to the short-term gain from its products in comparison to the long-term costs on honey bee diversity (colony losses, disease introduction, ...) is ''A. mellifera'' the better alternative? Oldroyd and Nanork (2009) do not believe of a severe impact of ''A. mellifera'' on ''A. cerana'' colonies, because feral ''A. mellifera'' colonies in Asia are so far unknown. This fact may have different reasons: the climate of the tropics brings only minor variation in daylength and thus, European honey bees cannot further adapt on these conditions (e.g. brood production), | + | The question is, regarding to the short-term gain from its products in comparison to the long-term costs on honey bee diversity (colony losses, disease introduction, ...) is ''A. mellifera'' the better alternative for future beekeeping all over the world? Oldroyd and Nanork (2009) do not believe of a severe impact of ''A. mellifera'' on ''A. cerana'' colonies, because feral ''A. mellifera'' colonies in Asia are so far unknown. This fact may have different reasons: the climate of the tropics brings only minor variation in daylength and thus, European honey bees cannot further adapt on these conditions (e.g. brood production). In comparison, feral A. mellifera may be only a question of time, if there are efforts to introduce African A. mellifera that is already adapted to tropical climate (Moritz & Härtel 2005). Due to the world wide distribution of ''Varroa spp.'', those parasitic mites also exist in Asia. If infestation of ''Varroa spp.'', or ''Tropilaelaps spp.'' stays untreated, the survival chance of ''A. mellifera'' colonies is further impacted. A. cerana is not as productive as A. mellifera, but they do have gentle temperament, and are known to be less susceptible against parasitiv mites, like Varro spp. The higher resistance results in increased hygiene standard (clean themselves and other at higher frequency, infected brood is removed before sealing the brood cells). |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{Reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 11:19, 17 April 2018
Indonesia: There is a lack of data about beekeeping with A. mellifera in Indonesia, allthough it is reported, that beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee A. cerana decreased. A survey revealed that the remaining percentage of A. cerana in comparison to the introduced A. mellifera in Indonesia lays between 45 - 60% (Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016). In Asia, beekeepers believe in the advantage of beekeeping with A. mellifera, thus the trend to give up the beekeeping with A. cerana and switch to A. mellifera increases instead. This practice leads to decreasing honey bee diversity and in further consequence it is possible that native species are replacement in the ecological niche which they occupy (e.g. in Bhutan the beekeeping with the Asian honey bee decreased by 95%) (Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016).
Nevertheless, there are several advantages of A. mellifera compared to A. cerana. The start up costs for hives that are suitable for beekeeping with A. mellifera are low. The colony size of A. mellifera ranges from 30000 - 50000 (i.e. colony size of A. cerana ranges from 2000 - 20000), they have higher productivity and therefore the harvesting of honey bee products is more profitable. A. cerana has a high tendency to abscond (triggered by tropical climate, pressure of pathogens/pests/predators, and insufficient forage-opportunities). A. cerana is also known to be more sensitive to Thai Sac Brood Virus. Due to the higher aggressivness of A. mellifera, they are often successfull in robbing honey from A. cerana, which leads in damaging their colonies (Oldroyd & Nanork 2009; Theisen-Jones & Bienefeld 2016). Studies revealed, that A. mellifera and A. cerana drones are attracted by similar pheromones secreted by the particular queen. Though, the mating between species is not possible due to incompatible organs, A. cerana colony size is significantly lower and therefore they are less able to complement high drone losses (Moritz & Härtel 2005; Ruttner & Maul 1983).
The question is, regarding to the short-term gain from its products in comparison to the long-term costs on honey bee diversity (colony losses, disease introduction, ...) is A. mellifera the better alternative for future beekeeping all over the world? Oldroyd and Nanork (2009) do not believe of a severe impact of A. mellifera on A. cerana colonies, because feral A. mellifera colonies in Asia are so far unknown. This fact may have different reasons: the climate of the tropics brings only minor variation in daylength and thus, European honey bees cannot further adapt on these conditions (e.g. brood production). In comparison, feral A. mellifera may be only a question of time, if there are efforts to introduce African A. mellifera that is already adapted to tropical climate (Moritz & Härtel 2005). Due to the world wide distribution of Varroa spp., those parasitic mites also exist in Asia. If infestation of Varroa spp., or Tropilaelaps spp. stays untreated, the survival chance of A. mellifera colonies is further impacted. A. cerana is not as productive as A. mellifera, but they do have gentle temperament, and are known to be less susceptible against parasitiv mites, like Varro spp. The higher resistance results in increased hygiene standard (clean themselves and other at higher frequency, infected brood is removed before sealing the brood cells).
