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© Eric Guerin
RAFTER BEEKEEPING SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT WITH APIS DORSATA
December 2019
The following document is intended to serve as a training manual and has been developed on the basis of related literature and the personal observations of the author. It aims to provide the essential requirements for the implementation of rafter beekeeping and presents guidelines for rafter construction and management as a means of sustainable harvesting. Nevertheless, it should not be considered as a substitute for practical training by an experienced rafter beekeeper, at least in the first stages of implementation. As is the case for any beekeeping activity, experience is a key factor for success.
Introduction
The giant honey bee, Apis dorsata F., is a single-comb, open-nesting species of honey bee. Its distribution area covers much of southern Asia, including parts of Pakistan and all the way to the eastern part of the Indonesian chain of islands.
Because this species open nests, it has not evolved to live in dark cavities (Jack, Lucky, & Ellis, 2015). In addition the colonies are defensive and demonstrate seasonal migration. Therefore, the domestication of this species, in the sense of the western honey bee Apis mellifera L. or the eastern honey bee, Apis cerana F., is often thought to be impossible (Tan, 2004; Tan, Chinh, Thai, & Mulder, 1997; Chinh, Minh, Thai, & Tan, 1995).
Attempts to induce Apis dorsata to remain in a hive have failed (Figure 1) (Koeniger N, Koeniger G, Tingek, 2010; Crane, 1999; Thakar, 1973).
However, in several locations of Southeast Asia, locals have used tree-poles, or rafters, positioned at a slight angle and low to the ground, that mimic tree branches, in order to attract migrating swarms of Apis dorsata (Petersen, 2012; https://www.beesunlimited.com). This traditional practice, first reported in 1902 by Fougères (Crane, Luyen, Mulder, & Ta, 1993), and commonly referred to as “Rafter Beekeeping,” allow beekeepers to harvest honey two or three times from the same colony per season without harming the bees (Tan et. al., 1997).
As they are typically placed near the ground, rafters also allow much safer honey harvesting for honey collectors who are exposed to personal risk when attempting to reach colonies nesting far off the ground (Petersen, 2012; Waring & Jump, 2004).
This method of sustainable management of Apis dorsata can be introduced into suitable environments in parts of the tropics and subtropics (Petersen & Reddy, 2016).
Intended to serve as a training manual the following has been developed on the basis of related literature as well as personal observations by the author. It aims to provide the essential requirements for the implementation of rafter beekeeping and presents guidelines for rafter construction and management as a means of sustainable harvesting. Nevertheless, it should not be considered as a substitute for practical training by an experienced rafter beekeeper, at least in the first stages of implementation. As is the case for any beekeeping activity, experience is a key factor of success.
Introduction
The giant honey bee, Apis dorsata F., is a single-comb, open-nesting species of honey bee. Its distribution area covers much of southern Asia, including parts of Pakistan and all the way to the eastern part of the Indonesian chain of islands.
Because this species open nests, it has not evolved to live in dark cavities (Jack, Lucky, & Ellis, 2015). In addition the colonies are defensive and demonstrate seasonal migration. Therefore, the domestication of this species, in the sense of the western honey bee Apis mellifera L. or the eastern honey bee, Apis cerana F., is often thought to be impossible (Tan, 2004; Tan, Chinh, Thai, & Mulder, 1997; Chinh, Minh, Thai, & Tan, 1995).
Attempts to induce Apis dorsata to remain in a hive have failed (Figure 1) (Koeniger N, Koeniger G, Tingek, 2010; Crane, 1999; Thakar, 1973).
However, in several locations of Southeast Asia, locals have used tree-poles, or rafters, positioned at a slight angle and low to the ground, that mimic tree branches, in order to attract migrating swarms of Apis dorsata (Petersen, 2012; https://www.beesunlimited.com). This traditional practice, first reported in 1902 by Fougères (Crane, Luyen, Mulder, & Ta, 1993), and commonly referred to as “Rafter Beekeeping,” allow beekeepers to harvest honey two or three times from the same colony per season without harming the bees (Tan et. al., 1997).
As they are typically placed near the ground, rafters also allow much safer honey harvesting for honey collectors who are exposed to personal risk when attempting to reach colonies nesting far off the ground (Petersen, 2012; Waring & Jump, 2004).
This method of sustainable management of Apis dorsata can be introduced into suitable environments in parts of the tropics and subtropics (Petersen & Reddy, 2016).
Intended to serve as a training manual the following has been developed on the basis of related literature as well as personal observations by the author. It aims to provide the essential requirements for the implementation of rafter beekeeping and presents guidelines for rafter construction and management as a means of sustainable harvesting. Nevertheless, it should not be considered as a substitute for practical training by an experienced rafter beekeeper, at least in the first stages of implementation. As is the case for any beekeeping activity, experience is a key factor of success.