Question

Write the scientific name of the most common species of honey bee reared. Mention the kind of areas that are suitable for bee-keeping practices. Mention any two uses of beeswax.

Answer 1

Hint: Apiculture, also termed as beekeeping, is the rearing of honey bees artificially. In this process, Bees are commercially bred in apiaries. An apiary is a space that can accommodate a significant number of beehives. The bees are cared for and maintained here in order to generate wax and honey.

Complete answer: 

The scientific name of the most common species of honeybee reared commercially in artificial hives in India is Apis indica.

The kind of areas that are suitable for bee-keeping practices are those areas full of wild shrubs, fruit orchards, and cultivated crops so that they can easily collect nectar. Also, adequate water should be there in the nearby place as honey bees need water to cool down at high temperatures.

The hive entrance should be oriented to the south or southeast but not into prevailing winds. In hilly country, the hive must be made in a valley.

Avoid placing hives on the west or north sides of buildings because field bees orient themselves with the sun and usually fly from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.

Two uses of honey bee wax are-

1. Beeswax is used to make pharmaceutical products.

2. It is used in pathological and scientific laboratories for the preparation of tissues during a microanatomical survey of soft tissues.

Note: The members of a beehive are a queen who is a fertile female and gives birth to young ones; thousands of drone bees that are males and a large population of female sterile worker bees who look after the young ones.

Bees are cultured for honey, bee wax, propolis, bee comb, royal jelly, bee bread, honeydew, and bee venom or apitoxin. Bee venom is used in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, etc. of man.