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COMPENDIUM, IEEC-2023   ( ISBN : 978-81-967860-4-5 )
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Theme-3: Bio-diversity and Resource Conservation, Livelihood and Food Security towards Sustainable Agri-food Systems

Enemies of apiary (Apis cerena indica) and their eco-friendly management in Northern Hills Zone of Chhattisgarh, India

MA Khan and Ankita Singh

Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
makramkhan_2000@yahoo.com

Abstract

Like some other bee species, honey bees are social and live in colonies numbering in the thousands. Three types of adult honey bees reside in one colony: the queen, male drones and infertile female workers. Rearing these insects for honey and other products are known as bee keeping also known as apiculture is a fascinating hobby and ancillary enterprise, providing additional and sometimes major income to the people in the rural areas. Honey bee colonies are susceptible to a variety of diseases and parasites. A study on natural enemies of honey bees were conducted at three districts of Northern Hills Zone of Chhattisgarh namely Surguja, Surajpur and Balrampur during 2022. From each district 50 respondents were selected randomly thus sample comprised of 150 beekeepers. The data was collected through pre - structured schedule, analyzed by using SPSS program and interpreted subsequently. Bee colony becomes weakens due to poor beekeeping management making suceptible to enemies. In this study, ten bee enemies i.e., ants, Galleria mellonella, Verspa vulgaris, predatory birds, bear, lizard, chameleon, termites, Til hawk moth and mites that attack honeybees and their hives in the study area were identified based on information collected from the beekeepers. Honey bee farmers were adopted several eco-friendly methods including frequent examination of colonies, cleaning of hives, removing excess combs, application of natural and bio agents prepared at local level etc. to manage these enemies for enhancing bee production.

IEEC-2023 at RARI (SKNAU, Jobner), Jaipur, Rajasthan organised by Society of Extension Education, Agra, India