Winter packings in honey bees (Apis cerana) to reduce winter mortality in Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract

Bees provide a range of ecosystem services that contribute to the wellbeing of people whilst maintaining the planet’s life support systems by pollination services. It is very important to save this creature by caring its health. A colony of honey bees (Apis cerana) does not hibernate in winter. The bees form cluster, clinging tightly together on the combs of hive. They employ fairly sophisticated thermal management strategies to prepare the nest and protect the colony from freezing. However, the precise nature of the cluster, its response to external temperature and ability to survive extreme cold for extended periods in chilly winter in Kashmir was studied in this programme. the activity of honey bees in harsh winter in Kashmir valley especially the 40 days which starts from 20^th December to January 30^th which cause winter mortality in bees. Colony winter mortality varied considerably in different regions of the state. Survey conducted during2015-2020 revealed that 72.55 percent farmers used gunny bags as packing material while as 26.93 percent use rice straw. Our study shows highest 80.00percent survivability of bees with using packing combination of Paper Rice straw gunny bags. The economics of migratory and non-migratory honey bees were worked out in our study Programme.