Studies on indigenous honeybee, Apis dorsata in Solan, Himachal Pradesh

The present study was aimed at gathering information about Apis dorsata. Survey was conducted at two locations (Nauni and Nalagarh) of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The information was gathered from local honey hunters. A dorsata arrival and departure was different at two locations which seemed to vary with altitudinal variations. A dorsata arrived in March and remained till September in Nalagarh (650 m) and was found nesting for about seven months. They nested for hot period of about three months in higher altitudinal areas like Nauni (1200 m). Colony migration was observed as a natural characteristic of the bees whereas absconding of the colonies might be attributed to various factors like interference by ignorant honey hunters. The colonies reused the remaining old combs of the previous season as an initiation for their new nest. The average honey production per comb was 1.5 to 3 kg and 4 to 6 kg respectively at Nauni and Nalagarh. The number of colonies had sharply declined in both the locations. Two species of birds were found to attack A dorsata in Solan area. The preferred nesting trees at Nauni area were Ban (Quercus spp), Kakkar (Pistacea sp), Simbal (Bombax ceiba) and Khirak (Celtis australis) while Barh (Ficus bengalensis), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Simbal (Bombax ceiba) and Mango (Mangifera spp) trees were preferred for nesting at Nalagarh.