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Honeybee species diversity in the Chinese Himalayan region(Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet)

Six honeybee species are recorded from the Chinese Himalayan region:

Apis laboriosa Tibet and Hengduan MountainsApis dorsata South Hengduan Mountains

(S Yunnan), Tibet.Apis florea Low elevation areas in Hengduan Mountains, Tibet.Apis andreniformis South Hengduan Mountains

(S Yunnan)Apis mellifera IntroducedApis cerana Throughout Chinese Himalayan region. Three

subspecies of this species are distributed in theregion:

Apis cerana indica South YunnanApis cerana skorikovi Tibet and NW YunnanApis cerana cerana In the areas except for the areas where the above

two subspecies occurOf the above species, only Apis cerean and Apis melliferan are kept by people, othersare wild.

1. Apis cerana

There are about 3 million colonies of Apis cerana in China, of which 2 million coloniesin the Chinese Himalayan region, including 1 million in Yunnan, more than 150, 000 inTibet and about 800,000 in Sichuan. Most of the Apis cerana in Tibet are wild.

Following three subspecies of Apis cerana are found in the Chinese Himalayan region:

1.1 Apis cerana ceranaThis subspecies is distributed throughout China but mainly in west Sichuan and westYunnan. The average honey yield is about 30 kg/year per colony, with maximum up to90 kg/per conoly. In addition to honey, the pollen yield is 1-2 kg and wax yield is 1 kg.

1.2 Apis cerana indicaThis subspecies is mainly distributed in the south part of the Hengduan Mountains. Thebody of this subspecies is smaller. Its hive has only 3-5 frames. The annual yield ofhoney, pollen and wax is 10-15 kg, 1 kg, and 0.5 kg, respectively.

1.3 Apis cerana skorikoviThis subspecies is mainly found in south Tibet and nouthwest Yunnan. Its body is ofmedium size. Its colony has 5-8 frames. The average annual honey yield is 20 kg, withadditional yield of 1.5 kg of pollen and 0.8 kg of wax.

2. Apis mellifera

•

This was introduced to China in 1920s, and there were about 200,000 colonies in1960s in China. It has higher honey yield with annul average yield of 50 kg and highestyield of 150 kg. In addition, it can produce royal jelly 0.5-1 kg, and 3-3.5 kg pollen in ayear. Therefore it is the main species of commercial beekeeping. However, this speciescannot be managed as fixed beekeeping and it is more prone to diseases than Apiscerana.

3. Apis dorsata

This is a big size bee and mainly distributed in the south part of the HengduanMountains. Its hive is built on big trees. Sometimes, as many as 100 colonies are foundon one tree. It has one big frame. One colony can produces 5-8 kg honey and 1 kg waxper year.

4. Apis laboriosa

This is probably the biggest honeybee. This species is endemic to the Himalayan region.In China it is distributed in south Tibet, west Sichuan and west Yunnan. It has one bigframe, which is 0.8-1.5 m long, 0.5-0.95 m wide, and 0.4-1.4 cm thick. One colony canproduce 15-20 kg honey and 1.5 kg wax per year.

5. Apis florea

This is a small sized honeybee. It is found in the areas below 1900 m in the HengduanMountains. One colony can produce 1-1.5 kg honey. It is a good crop pollinator.

6. Apis andreniformis

This is again a small sized honeybee, found in the south part of the HengduanMountains. The annual honey yield is 1-1,5 kg. It is also a good pollinator.

7. Trigona

This is another genus which can make honey. At least 10 species have been reportedfrom South Yunnan. The honey yield is low but its honey is of medicinal use and usedby farmers in China.

Summary of the Apis species inChinese Himalayan regionSpecies/subspecies

Apis cerana ceranaApis cerana indicaApis cerana skorikoviApis milliferaApis dorsataApis laboriosaApis floreaApis andreniformisTrigona ssp

Comb frames

8-10(16}3-5

5-816-201111

Honey yield(kg)30 (90)10-152050(150)5-8

15-201-1.51-1.50.5kg

Pollen yield(kg)1-21

1.53-3.5

Wax yield(kg)10.5

0.8

1

1.5

II. Impact of Apis mellifera on indigenous bees.

Research and surveys have been conducted to examine the impact of introduction ofApis mellifera on the local honeybees.

It is found that Apis cerana is more effective in utilizing the scattered honey plantsources and more suitable to the environmental conditions in the HKH region.

Because of its higher honey yield and easier management, Apis mellifera wasintroduced to China in 1920s and it has replaced Apis cerana in many places. Atpresent there are about 8.5 million colonies of honeybees in China, of which only 3million colonies are Apis cerana, which are restricted mostly in the mountains.

The following impact of Apis mellifera on Apis cerana in the Chinese Himalayan regionhas been recognised:

• Competition for forage sources• Species competition: When forage source is limited, Apis mellifera usually invade to

hives of Apis cerana to get honey, which leads to fighting between two species.Usually the whole Apis cerana colony will be killed by Apis mellifera.

• Ectohormone of Apis mellifera may affect the mating of Apis cerana when both arein the region within 20 km. Usually the queen of Apis cerana cannot mate due toectohormone of Apis mellifera, resulting unfertilised eggs and only male bees beingdeveloped, leading to death of the whole colony.

• Apis mellifera spreading diseases, such as paralysis, American foulbrood, Europeanfoulbrood, sacbrood, chalkbrood. Before introduction of Apis mellifera, Apis ceranahad not been found infected with these diseases. Once infected, the spread is veryfast and loss is severe. For example, in 1972, Apis cerana was infected withsacbrood in Guangdong Province and this was spread very quickly throughoutChina, resulted in death of many colonies of Apis cerana. In Yunnan Province only,620,000 of the 770,000 colonies of Apis cerana died due to this disease. From1992, chalk brood of Apis mellifera is also infecting Apis cerana and this will lead to

big loss. Due to diseases, many colonies of Apis cerana died. In this connection,some disease persistent strains were bred and the colonies of Apis cerana in YunnanProvince have risen to 1 million recently.

The traditional beekeeping method needs improved. In Yunnan, about 90% Apis ceranacolonies are kept in the traditional hives of logs or in the wall and collection of honeywas done through destroying frames, and the annual honey yield was only 1-2 kg.

Selection and multiplication; Apis cerana

Due to the invasion of Apis mellifera and the spread of pests and diseases, the numberof Apis cerana colonies decreased to a very low level. It was realised that if propermeasures are not taken, Apis cerana may get extinct in some time. It is also realised thatif the rearing techniques can be improved to yield sufficient honey and other produces,more farmers will keep this species to increase their cash income. In this connection,selection and multiplication of disease persistent strains have been carried out indifferent parts of China and very promising achievements have been achieved. Forexample Some good strains have been bred in Yunnan and northestern China. Some ofthese have been released to farmers.

Beekeeping and rural development

From 1985, the Eastern Bee Research Institute started a programme to expand improvedbeekeeping methods to farmers through organising training courses. Up to date, theimproved method has been used in over 150, 000 colonies of Apis cerana. The averagehoney yield is enhanced to 10-15 kg, and highest up to 72 kg. 12,000 people in 3, 000farmer households have got considerably benefits from these improved beekeepingmethods.

Pollination

The role of pollination of insects including honeybees has not been well reconginedand understood in China and need to be greatly promoted. Almost all the beekeepers orfarmers keep honeybees exclusively for honey and other products though some farmersrealized the role of honeybees in pollination of crops.

The preliminary survey indicates that in most of the apple and pear production regions,apples and pears are almost 100% hand pollination, as in the case of Maoxian ofSichuan Province and one important pear production county in Shandong Province.Many farmers even thought in the past that bees eat flowers, suck "blood" of the crops,and spread diseases and pests. Local farmers usually required to be paid by thebeekeepers because they claim that it is their crops that feed the bees, which is correct.

But the issue is that the farmers have not realised the benefits they get from the beevisits to their crops and fruit trees.

But the figure is not very pessimistic. The field surveys and interviews indicate thatmany farmers, especially those who are managing fruit trees or other cash crops, haverealised the significance of insect pollination. Some beekeepers o/ Apis cerana cum fruittree growers are using honeybees for pollination of their own cash crops. Beekeepersdo not like to use honeybees for pollination of crops and fruits trees because spray ofpesticides will kill their bees.

Further, many farmers think that insect pollination is not as effective as handpollination, because hand pollination can make sure that proper pollinizers are beingused and each flower is pollinated.

For beekeepers, spray of pesticides and insecticides will kill their bees and they are veryreluctant to use their bee for pollination. For this reason a proper management need tobe developed.

It is very important to have field study on the effectiveness of honeybee pollination toshow farmers the benefits in terms of yield, time, and economy, and more important toenhance understanding about the role of insect pollination within governmental policymakers, agricultural technicians, and farmers.

Some studies conducted in China, like in many other countries, show the significantrole of honeybees in pollination of crops and the resultant increase in yields.

• Kung Bangyu collected 86 species of pollinating insects from 6 legume fodderplants, 75, or 87.2% are from Apiodea.

• Brassica oleracea var. capifafa. Yield increase: by 18.2 times• Plum: yield increase by 55%• Soybean: by 92%• Rape seeds: by 37%, oil by 10%• Sunflower: nut yield by 34%, oil yield by 48%