HYMEXOPTERA. 



279 



Status.— Very beneficial in the pollination of flowers and useful 

 as yielding honey and wax. 



Remarks. — (i) The races of this bee found in the Hills arc very 

 much darker than those found in the Plains. 



(2) This bee may be domesticated to some extent but will 

 not remain in a hive for more than a few months as a rule. It is 

 very subject to attacks of Wax-moth and does not store any greal 

 quantity of honey. 



(3) This is the Indian Bee. intermediate in size between the 

 Rock and Little Bees and slightly smaller than the European Bee ! 

 in Tamil Thenee (bee). 



APIS FLOREA, Fb. 



Apisfiorea, Fabr., Mant. Ins., 1, 305 ; Bingham, Faun. Ind. Hym., 

 I, 559, f. 187. 



I ... 119. — Apis florea, worker, ["he small outlini > the natural 



1 inal.) 



Distribution. — Throughout Southern India. 



Lift-history. This bee builds a small single comb, usually about 

 six inches broad and deep, which is generally slung from a branch 

 of a bush. Colonies not gregarious. 



Status- Very beneficial as a pollinator of flowers. The honey 

 and wax, though of good quality, are produced in too small quantity 

 to have much commercial value. The nests are commonly robbed 

 when found and the honey eaten. 



Remarks. (I) This bee i^ not likely to repay domestication. 

 (2) This is the Little Ike; in Tamil, Seruthenee (small bee). 



