772 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



every three years tliey remain in vigour. In nature colonies requeen 

 themselves at the time of swarming or before old queens die. 



In countries where bee-keeping is an established industry there are 

 bee-keepers who make it a profession to rear queens, get them fertilized 

 and sell them to those who want new queens to re-queen their colonies. 



The Indigenous Honey-bees of India. 



In India three kinds of true honey-bees occur. One is the Rock 

 Bee {A'pis dorsata), colonies of which build huge single combs, sometimes 

 about 4 or 5 feet in diameter, in open places, on the faces of rocks, on 

 branches of large trees in forests and other localities and sometimes on 

 walls of buildings. Wild tribes or professional honey-gatherers collect 

 their combs, after first of all burning or smoking away the bees. Each 

 comb yields a large quantity of honey (it is said up to about 40 lb.) 

 and wax (up to about 2| lb.). (Plate 125.) 



The second is the Indian Bee {A'pis indica), colonies of which occupy 

 and build combs in cavities in tree trunks and walls and also in unused 

 boxes. They build several parallel combs side by side and always hve 

 in closed covered situations. These are the bees which are kept in the 

 Hill Stations and are capable of being kept in the Plains too. 



The third is the Little Bee {Apis florea), colonies of which build 

 small single combs in open situations like the Rock Bee, in bushes, under 

 eaves of huts and cornices of buildings, behind doors and windows, 

 in fuel stacks and in various similar situations. The combs are usually 

 small and yield only a few ounces of honey. 



Of all these indigenous honey-bees, practically speaking, only the 

 first two, viz., the Rock Bee and the Indian Bee, produce the whole of 

 the honey and beeswax obtainable in India. Of these two again only 

 the Indian Bee, Apis indica, is capable of being kept in hives under 

 domestication. 



Bee-keeping as an Industry. 



Beekeeping as an industry is carried on principally for honey, bees- 

 wax being obtained as a by-product. Let us first of all consider whether 

 it will pay to undertake bee-keeping to produce honey in India. 



Uses' oj Honey in India and how it is obtained. 

 In India honey forms one of the necessary articles required in most 

 religious ceremonies. Everj^here a httle honey is placed in the mouth 

 of the infant at birth. This is considered as a purificatory ceremony, 

 the real usefulness probably being to clear the throat. Honey forms 

 the basis for many preparations and is an important vehicle for almost 



