Effect of handling frequencies on colony development in Indian honey bees (Apis cerana F) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh

Apis cerana F is a part of natural heritage of mountain communities. It is an excellent pollinator of mountain crops and helps in maintenance of biodiversity. This native beehive species has not been popular amongst the beekeepers because of its several behavioural characteristics like frequent swarming, absconding etc. It needs specific management strategies for A cerana so as to sustain the traditional beekeeping systems of the mountain people. This experiment was therefore conducted to work out optimum inspections required for A cerana management and also to know the effect of normal observations taken by the beekeepers during a year. The present investigations were carried out in the apiaries of Regional Horticulture Research Sub-Station, Katrain, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Significant differences were found between frequently-handled and less frequently-handled colonies.