Japanese honeybee, ecology and its rearing methods

摘要

This review is divided into five parts. The Japanese honeybee, Apis cerana japonica (Acj) is a subspecies of the Eastern honeybee, Apis cerana (Ac). It is indigenous in Japan excluding Hokkaido. In 1877, Apis mellifera (Am) was introduced to Japan. Am is kept for honey production, etc., but colonies are easily attacked by Vespa spp. and Varroa mites. Acj is resistant to both Vespa spp. and Varroa. Chapter 1 describes the history of Acj and beekeeping. The first description of honeybees in Japan is found in Nihonshoki dated 643 A.D. (Fig. 1). Hachimitsu lchiran (All about Honey) published in 1872, has pictures of beekeeping, extracting honey (Fig. 4). Chapter 2 describes the scientific naming of Acj. Radoszkowski first described Acj as Apis mellifica L. var, japonica in 1887. Chapter 3 describes natural nesting places of Acj found in undeveloped area such as mountains. Nowadays, Acj is found even in big cities. They commonly live in tree holes, under roofs and floors, in old shrines, stone lanterns, etc. Chapter 4 describes local traditional beekeeping and extracting honey. Traditional beekeeping of Acj uses various hives and special ways of extracting honey. Chapter 5 describes the ecology of Acj. The life span of the Acj queen is about 3 years. Queen cells are built on the bottom of combs from April to June of the mating season. Three days after sealing queen cells, the wax cap is removed and a cocoon is seen (Fig. 36). A unique feature of Acj is a tiny pore at the center of each drone cell cap (Fig. 40). Smokers are not needed to handle Acj because workers are gentle. The swarming season is late April to early June. Swarms after settle under tree branches (Fig. 52). Sometimes, an Acj swarm is attracted by mimic pheromones to oriental orchid flowers (Cymbidium pumilum) (Fig. 53). Fanning at the nest entrance pull in air from outside (Fig. 57). Chapter 6 describes Acj beekeeping using movable-frame hives, and extracting honey. A vertical AY hive devised by Mr. Keizo Aoki and Dr. Tadaharu Yoshida is more beneficial for saving combs than a horizontal frame hive (Pig. 65). A preventer to stop robbing by Am is described (Fig. 73). Chapter 7 compares Acj and Am morphology and physiology, ethology and ecology, foraging, natural enemies and disease, and products. Illustrations show the venation of the hind wing (Fig. 80), seasonal color change (Fig. 81}, queen ovaries (Fig. 82), the fimbriate lobe of the drone endophallus (Fig. 83), eggs laid by queens (Fig. 84), the mating flight time (Fig. 85), a queen cell (Fig. 86), the pore in the drone cell cap (Fig. 87), a swarming cluster (Fig. 88), and the fanning posture (Fig. 89). Chapter 8 describes Ac beekeeping using log hives, niche hives, and other traditional hives in Southeast Asian countries. Chapter 9 describes aspects of honey extraction by popularizing movable-frame hives, using Acj in greenhouses for pollinating strawberry, melon, etc., precautions against damage by disease and enemies, and hobby beekeeping.