307
The hives of Apis dorsata are formed at a very low height, a trait dissimilar to
behaviour shown by this elsewhere. The trees in these forests are 5–10 m tall, yet
few hives are constructed above 4–5 m from ground level. The optimum height are
1.5–2.0 m above the ground. A survey of 816 trees during 2018 showed that only
2% trees had hives above 2–5 m above ground level, the majority (98%) were situated at heights between 1.5–2.5 m.
It has been observed that honey yield has a definite relation with size while an
increase in elevation of the hive above the ground is usually related to an increase in
the yield of honey up to height of 2.59 m. Any increase in height beyond this results
in a decrease in the yield of honey.
It has also been observed that during the last phase of hive formation, low level
branches are avoided and higher branches are actively selected. This is because the
lower levels of the forest are hotter during this time. Avicennia, Sonneratia,
Bruguiera and Rhizophora species are generally selected for hives constructed for
the second time. Hives formed in the Excoecaria – Phoenix formation are found at
heights as low as 60–240 cm from ground level. Hives constructed for the second
time are found at a higher elevation and were smaller in size. They yielded comparatively more honey and the quantity of wax was proportionately more than in the first
formation.
Hives constructed at the end of the season are found to be smaller in size. The
bees in Sundarbans usually depend on Excoecaria agallocha nectar and the honey
content is comparatively more than the content of hives constructed earlier in the
season.
Statistical analysis of random sampling of 60 hives suggests that in 98 percent of
the cases the elevation of these hives range between 1.5–2.1 m. However, the optimum distance of the hive, in terms of the maximum yield of honey, is found to be at
2.5 m, as long as other factors remain constant.
The peak periods of flowering for different mangrove species are highlighted in
Table 9.6.
Table 9.6 Peak periods of flowering for different mangrove floral species
20th March to 15th
April
Aegiceras corniculatum, Acanthus ilicifolius, Suaeda maritima and
Sesuvium portulacustrum
31st March to 15th
April
Phoenix paludosa
5th April to 20th
April
Ceriops sp.
1st May to 20th
May
Avicennia spp.
20th May to 5th
June
Excoecaria agallocha
15th April to 5th
May
Sonneratia apetala
Honey and Other Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) Collection
The hives of Apis dorsata are formed at a very low height, a trait dissimilar to
behaviour shown by this elsewhere. The trees in these forests are 5–10 m tall, yet
few hives are constructed above 4–5 m from ground level. The optimum height are
1.5–2.0 m above the ground. A survey of 816 trees during 2018 showed that only
2% trees had hives above 2–5 m above ground level, the majority (98%) were situated at heights between 1.5–2.5 m.
It has been observed that honey yield has a definite relation with size while an
increase in elevation of the hive above the ground is usually related to an increase in
the yield of honey up to height of 2.59 m. Any increase in height beyond this results
in a decrease in the yield of honey.
It has also been observed that during the last phase of hive formation, low level
branches are avoided and higher branches are actively selected. This is because the
lower levels of the forest are hotter during this time. Avicennia, Sonneratia,
Bruguiera and Rhizophora species are generally selected for hives constructed for
the second time. Hives formed in the Excoecaria – Phoenix formation are found at
heights as low as 60–240 cm from ground level. Hives constructed for the second
time are found at a higher elevation and were smaller in size. They yielded comparatively more honey and the quantity of wax was proportionately more than in the first
formation.
Hives constructed at the end of the season are found to be smaller in size. The
bees in Sundarbans usually depend on Excoecaria agallocha nectar and the honey
content is comparatively more than the content of hives constructed earlier in the
season.
Statistical analysis of random sampling of 60 hives suggests that in 98 percent of
the cases the elevation of these hives range between 1.5–2.1 m. However, the optimum distance of the hive, in terms of the maximum yield of honey, is found to be at
2.5 m, as long as other factors remain constant.
The peak periods of flowering for different mangrove species are highlighted in
Table 9.6.
Table 9.6 Peak periods of flowering for different mangrove floral species
20th March to 15th
April
Aegiceras corniculatum, Acanthus ilicifolius, Suaeda maritima and
Sesuvium portulacustrum
31st March to 15th
April
Phoenix paludosa
5th April to 20th
April
Ceriops sp.
1st May to 20th
May
Avicennia spp.
20th May to 5th
June
Excoecaria agallocha
15th April to 5th
May
Sonneratia apetala
Honey and Other Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) Collection