Stingless bees are highly social insects which populated the tropical earth 65 million years ago longer than honey bees. They are limited to tropics and subtropics lacking venom apparatus and cannot sting. A little is reported so far about the domestication of the Trigona iridipennis Smith as well as the aspects of Meliponiculture in Kerala. Based on this back ground, the objectives of this study were to 1) characterize the various Meliponiculture techniques and management practices 2) the new techniques evolved for Meliponiculture practices and management as well as value addition of stingless bee products.
Hundred and twenty farmers across Kerala engaged in Meliponiculture were interviewed and their Meliponiculture practices were observed and recorded. A questionnaire was prepared and distributed among the farmers to learn their depth of knowledge in stingless bee keeping techniques and to study the current status of Meliponiculture. In earthen bowl and coconut shell methods it is very advantageous to collect honey without causing any disturbance to the brood chamber that is at the bottom. In PVC pipe and coconut shell the colony often desert in summer due to high temperature. Even though the bamboo nodes are good, they are found to degenerate after a few years through the attack of wood borers. Stingless bee rearing is an important activity as it helps pollination and provides honey for various purposes. The bottle neck for Meliponiculture includes availability of colonies to start with, better techniques for colony capture, colony multiplication, honey extraction, processing and marketing.
This study highlights the various drawbacks and flaws of traditional Meliponiculture in Kerala, which could be rectified using improved scientific management practices and tools. If correctly informed disseminated these techniques could be utilized by tribal, woman, old aged people and even children to fetch an extra income and also to serve the high demand of stingless bee honey and help to maintain the rich biodiversity of Kerala.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Review of literature
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Study area
3.2 Study design and data collection
3.3 Statistical analysis
4. Results and discussion
4.1 Anthropogenic habitats
4.2 Domesticated habitats
4.3 Types of nests used in Meliponiculture
4.4 Methods of stingless bee colony capturing
4.5 Hives that can be dismantled
4.6 Hives that “cannot be dismantled”
4.7 Trap nest preference
4.8 Trapping the colony using plastic bottle
4.9 Method of colony division
4.10 Use of conventional nests
4.11 Specially designed PVC pipe nest
4.12 Earthen bowl
4.13 Coconut shell
4.14 Honey extraction
4.15 Pest and disease management
4.16 Honey storage and use
4.17 Innovations in Meliponiculture
5. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The research aims to characterize existing stingless bee keeping practices in Kerala and to develop and document improved, scientifically-backed techniques for colony management, honey extraction, and value addition to support sustainable beekeeping as a supplementary income source.
- Documentation of diverse stingless bee nesting habitats
- Evaluation of traditional and improved colony capture and division methods
- Optimization of hive design and material usage
- Strategies for hygienic honey processing and pest management
- Socio-economic potential for rural and tribal livelihood support
Excerpt from the Book
4.14 Honey extraction
In Kerala the traditional practice of honey extraction is by cutting the honey cubes using a knife or by scooping it with a steel spoon and squeezing it by hand, then filtering it through a net. The main drawback of this system is that, the fallen bees, eggs and pollen pots get squeezed and may mix with the honey, thus the honey may be get contaminated. It affects the shelf life and quality of the honey. This can be avoided by keeping the honey cubes on a net that stretched over a vessel. The honey will be normally flows down and it can be speed up by placing the whole system in slight sunlight. As the honey pots are not squeezed, the bees, eggs and pollen pots will remain as such in the net, and only pure honey will be collected in the vessel.
Honey also can be collected by placing cut honey cubes in a steel dish kept in a slanting position and keeping the honey pots at the top. The honey will be flown down and can be collected from the bottom of the dish.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of Meliponiculture as a global activity and highlights its emerging significance in Kerala for pollination services and supplementary income.
2. Review of literature: Summarizes existing knowledge on stingless bees, focusing on their social structure, global significance, and the status of Trigona iridipennis in Kerala.
3. Materials and Methods: Details the study area characteristics and the methodology, including farmer surveys, field observations, and the experimental design used for colony maintenance.
4. Results and discussion: Discusses various habitats, nesting types, colony capture techniques, extraction methods, pest management, and provides recommendations for scientific innovations in beekeeping.
5. Conclusions: Reviews the study findings, emphasizing the need for scientific management to overcome traditional flaws and promote sustainable stingless beekeeping.
Keywords
Trigona iridipennis Smith, Anthropogenic habitats, Meliponiculture, Eduction techniques, Stingless bee, Kerala, Beekeeping, Hive design, Honey extraction, Colony division, Pollination, Sustainable agriculture, Traditional knowledge, Propolis, Biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the traditional and modern practices of stingless beekeeping (Meliponiculture) in Kerala, specifically regarding the species Trigona iridipennis Smith.
Which specific areas of beekeeping are covered?
The work covers hive types, colony capturing techniques, methods for splitting colonies, honey extraction processes, and management of pests and diseases.
What is the main goal of the study?
The primary goal is to identify the drawbacks of traditional beekeeping methods and introduce improved, scientifically verified management practices to enhance productivity and income.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study utilized interviews with 120 farmers, systematic field observations, and trial-and-error experiments with various hive designs to standardize management practices.
What does the main section of the paper discuss?
The main section (Results and Discussion) evaluates different nesting materials like wooden boxes, PVC pipes, and coconut shells, and provides 15 specific innovation points for better beekeeping.
Which keywords define this research?
Key terms include Meliponiculture, Trigona iridipennis, Eduction techniques, sustainable beekeeping, and colony management.
Why are PVC pipes considered less ideal for bee nests?
The study notes that PVC pipes are not ideal because they tend to retain heat during the summer months, which can spoil the colony.
How can contamination during honey extraction be reduced?
The author suggests moving away from squeezing honey cubes by hand and instead using a net stretched over a vessel, allowing honey to drip naturally, which prevents contamination from crushed brood or pollen.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Prem Jose Vazhacharickal (Autor:in), Sajan Jose K (Autor:in), 2016, Novel and innovative techniques in Meliponiculture in Kerala. The current status of knowledge, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/351143
