Asiatic Honeybee Apis Cerana: Biodiversity Conservation and Agricultural Production - Tapa dura

Despite its economic usefulness, biodiversity of Asian hive bee Apis cerana is suffering precipitous decline and is threatened with extinction in its entire native habitat. Although a number of publications have appeared on honeybees in the market no attempt has been made to approach the subject in systematically and in a comprehensive manner in case of Apis cerana. There is still not enough knowledge on different facets of biological conservation, agricultural production and role in improving food security and livelihoods. An attempt has been made in this book to fill the gap by providing detailed information on different aspects of Apis cerana leading to sustainability and environmental protection. This book discusses information on  varied aspects of Apis cerana biology, biogeography, reproduction, genetics, molecular phylogeny, interaction with other species, floral resources, dance language, safety from pesticides, management  problems, loss of genetic diversity, behavioural defence, role in food production, livelihood security and conservation strategies for protecting biodiversity and enhancing crop productivity. The compilation of this book is unique in the sense that in the context of pollinator decline over the world, conservation of this species will be a step for sustaining food security. 

The world is facing food crisis as the growing human population is posing a threat to natural resources and fast approaching famine. In the next 50 years, the global population is expected to reach 9 billion doubling the food, feed and crop demand. Concomitantly, this situation has further aggravated because of pollinator decline worldwide resulting in pollination crisis. These problems have been further aided and abetted by a lack of prophylactic progress in the conservation of biodiversity and increased agricultural production. Among pollinators, honeybees are declining at alarming rate. The European honeybee Apis mellifera is a well-studied insect. On the other hand the Asiatic honeybee Apis cerana which has provided mankind with invaluable products, conservation of natural resources and pollination of agricultural crops is relatively little understood. This   book discusses information on  varied aspects of Apis cerana biology, biogeography, reproduction, genetics, molecular phylogeny, interaction with other spoecies, floral resources, dance language, safety from pesticides, management  problems, loss of genetic diversity, behavioural defence, role in food production, livelihood security and conservation strategies for protecting biodiversity and enhancing crop productivity.  The compilation of this book is unique in the sense that in the context of pollinator decline over the world, conservation of this species will be a step for sustaining food security. The  book will be useful to beekeepers, pollination biologists, students, teachers, scientists of agriculture, animal behaviour, botany, conservation, biology, ecology, entomology, environmental biology, forestry, genetics, plant breeding, horticulture, toxicology, zoology, seed growers and seed agencies.