THE POTENTIAL FOR WILD BEE HONEY PRODUCTION
Mochammad Junus
The Faculty of Animal Husbandry Brawijaya University, Malang-Indonesia
Email:
[email protected]
Abstract
The study was enacted in Sungai Pagar Village, Kiri Hilir Riau
regency, Riau Province in July 2014 in co-operation with the area wild bee
honey Co-operative Society. The aim of this study was obstain an accurate
estimate of the economic potential at local wild bee honey (Apis dorsata)
and its products of the above area. In order to draw was appropriate laws
and regulations for its sustainable exploitation. A survey method was
employed, which found that there were two types honey of wild honey bees,
one black ini colour and the other yellow , and that of the total number of
hives 1320 colony were of the black variety. Regarding honey production
and harvesting, it was found that black bee hives produced 3 - 8 kgs of
honey and could be harvested from between 8 and 10 times a year. The local
of method of harvesting, namely the taking of only 25 % - 30 % if any one
hive was unlikely to cause the bees to abandon the hive, and is thus fully
sustainable.
Key word: economic, co-operative, harvest.
INTRODUCTION
Background of Research
Forest sustainable utilization and its capacity to support human life
are the benchmark of a nation development. The nation capacity to manage
its forest governance indicates that country development can be measured
perfectly. Forest, farming and agriculture are the lifeblood that comes
from non-living things become living things (fodder and food). The non-
living things' ability to be living things like tomato, coconut and sialang
tree are concrete example that can be perfectly applied to fulfill life
necessities.
One of life necessities that its production needs to be improved is
honey. Honey comes from honeybee that absorb plants and animal sugar-rich
liquid, and pollen. Some plantations that produce sugar-rich liquid and
pollen can be used by giant honey bee (A dorsata) to supply their needs,
but other results that can be obtained are new products such as honey,
royal jelly, pollen, beeswax, bee colony and queen bee. Those products can
be used by humans not only for food but also for medicine and cultivation.
Therefore, forest potential towards giant honey bees products in
general, honeycomb, honey and beeswax are needed to observe further in the
beginning segment of products. The aim of this research was to know the
ability of forest resources to produce honeycomb, honey and beeswax.
Therefore, the benefit of this research was to determine the policy in
developing bees activity in forest area to produce honeycomb, honey and
beeswax.
Research Method
This research was done once on every tree when honey harvesting with
survey. The beginning of this research determining the location and sample
used. Then, location and sample used were set out as research objects. The
location was in community cooperative (KOPMAS) of Sialang honey in Riau
Province. Tree used as sample was determined randomly. The ingredients
needed in this research were: sialang tree, black giant honeybee product,
and some giant honeybee colonies. Then, the equipments used were:
stationery, camera, rope, protective clothing, frames, honey strainer,
scales and honey dehydrator.
The research was held using survey, the researcher went to giant
honeybee cultivation area which was determined randomly. Then, the
researcher observed scattering of tree, prepared the climbing equipments
and harvesting honey from black giant honeybee colony. There was one group
observed with 16 trees, while the number of colony that was measured its
honey production was 100% from the total colony on each tree. Product
observed was the hive comb that would be cut out and dropped down. The
variables measured were:
1. The number of black giant honeybee colony on the sample tree
2. The types of giant honeybee colony according to beekeeper
The amount of honey produced by each sample colony was grouped into 5:
group a,b,c,d and e with each honey production in the range of 7.3 - 8.2
kg, 6.3 – 7.2 kg, 5.3 - 6.2 kg, 4.3 – 5.2 kg and 3.3 – 4.2 kg.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
1. The amount of black giant honeybee colony on sample sialang tree
Referring to the observation on giant honeybee colony, there were two
colors found, yellow and black. Yellow giant honeybees were easy to
migrate, while the black giant honeybees were rarely to migrate. Those
giant honeybees would be observed in this research. Salmah (2000) said that
there are three types of giant honeybees in Indonesia, A. dorsata, A
cerana, and A. andreniformis. Furthermore, yellow giant honeybee
identification should be done. The number of black giant honeybee colony on
the sample tree were varied. The observation showed that the number of
honeybee colonies on each tree were in the range of 28-132 colonies.
Overall, there were 1320 giant honeybees on 16 trees occupied. Furthermore,
the result from statistic analysis showed the average of giant honeybee
colony on each tree could be seen in Table 1.
Table 1. Total and groups of giant honeybee in Kopmas Sungai Hilir Kiri
Kampar
"Tree "Number of Giant Honey bee Colony Group "Total "
" "(Colony) " "
" "a "b "
" "a "b "c "d "e " "
"Total "1149.12"1555.2 "1771.2 "1382.4 "907.2 "6765.12 "
"Average "76.6+ "97.2 + "110.7 + "86.4 + "56.7 + "422.8 + "
" "59.24 "70.51 "85.63 "54.64 "27.13 "196.50 "
As seen in Table 2, honeycomb production in group b,c,d was still dominant.
Percentage for group a,b,c,d, and e was 18.11 %, 22.98 %, 26.18 %, 20.44 %
dan 13.41 %. Therefore, giant honeybee population without engineering still
produced honey production at least 31.52% up to 68.48%. The honeycomb
production could be seen in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Honeycomb of Giantbee in Various Group
It could be seen that low or high honey production in many groups was
because of the different age of queen bee in each colony. The colony which
had young queen bee (under 3 months) had less member. Likewise the hive
with old queen bee. The existence of those colonies still produced honey
optimally even without the queen bee help. That fact revealed that even
though the population was not controlled , they still produced honey
optimally. Tropical climate environment also supported honey production to
be optimal. Phillips (20013) said, optimal temperature to breed the eggs is
35.9o C, means that the temperature is easy to reach in tropical area. As
the result, life necessity was low and the production was high.
2. The amount of black honey production from giant honeybee per colony
Honey inside the chopped hive comb was directly drained and it did not
take too much time. The result of draining process was put into container
as seen in Figure 6. Honey obtained was in good quality because it did not
contain carcass or larva. Honey which contains larva fraction is easily
contaminated, even the honey becomes aqueous (Morse and Hooper,
1985).Therefore, honey without larva fraction lasted longer than squeezed
honey. Junus et al (2006) explained that honey which is extracted using
extractor does not contain larva, so it is better than squeezed hone.
Furthermore, honey which was extracted and evaporated using cool
temperature would improve its quality without spoiled the honey component.
Honey of giant honeybee was from various plantation nectar (sugar-rich
liquid) so that it produced various components. As mentioned by Horn
(1998), that kind of honey will have better benefits.
a.Result from honey draining b.
Honey filtering
Figure 6. Drained honey filtered in certain container
This process did not use honey extractor because the hole in the hive comb
was big enough and it let the honey came out easily from the hive. The
groups of giant honeybee breeders or KOPMAS did not have honey extractor.
Therefore, filtered honey was directly put in honey tube container, then it
was flowed into bottles or trays which were ready to use for packaging or
draining. Honey filtering machine and trays could be seen in Figure 7.
a.Pure honey b. Honey filtering
Figure 7. Honey filtering process and pure honey tube
The result of honey weighing in many honey production groups after
filtering (before packaged) by KOPMAS and the total and average after it
was statistically analyzed could be seen in Table 3.
Table 3. Honey Production Groups of Giant Honeybee Koloni in Kopmas Sungai
Hilir Kiri Kampar
" "Honey Production Group (kg) "
" "a "b "c "d "e "
"Total "1149.12 "1555.2 "156.5 "1451.52 "842.4 "
"Average "88.4 + "135.9 "1879.2 + "166.7 + "162.2+ "
" "54.46 "+63.84 "84.31 "55.91 "27.99 "
Referring to Table 3, honey production of group C was still dominant.
Thus, figure of the most dominant honey production from group C could be
explained in Figure 8.
Figure 8. Honeycomb Production Group of Giant Honeybee
Based on Figure 8, whether it was low or high giant honeybee colony
produced honey was caused by existence of colony member, queen bee age and
feed stock around the location. A colony which had many colony members
indirectly would produce more feed. The young queen bee under 1 year could
produce more eggs, thus it produced more colony members. Likewise, if there
is much feed around the location, the honey would be more than others
(Wiston, 1987).
3. Beeswax Production of Black Giant Honeybee per Colony
Giant honeybee beeswax was an ingredient used for brood, bee
bread (pollen) and honey. Beeswax were from honeycomb, brood comb and bee
bread comb which were taken the extract and left its wax. The size of bee
hive, larva and bee bread (pollen) depend on the bee types who makes it
(Lusby, 2003). Beeswax harvesting could be done after honey draining
process. Then, beeswax was boiled and chilled for the separation between
water and wax.
The result of beeswax weighing from black giant honey bee
keeper done by Kopmas and the total and average after it was statistically
analyzed could be seen in Table 4.
Table 4. Beeswax Production Groups of Giant Honeybee Koloni in Kopmas
Sungai
Hilir Kiri Kampar
" "Beeswax Production Group (kg) "
" "a "b "c "d "e "
"Total "127.68 "172.8 "208.8 "161.3 "93.6 "
"Average "9.82 + "15.1 + "17.4 + "18.5 + "18.02 + 3.11"
" "6.05 "7.09 "9.37 "6.21 " "
Referring to Table 4, beeswax productions from group b, c, d and e
were still dominant. The percentage from each group a, b, c, d and e was
12.46 %, 19.15 %, 22.07 %, 23.46 % and 23.08 %. Therefore, a population of
giant honeybee without engineering still could produce honey at least
12.46%. The figure of beeswax production could be explained in Figure 9.
Figure 9. Giant Honeybee Beeswax Production
Based on Figure 9, whether it was low or high giant honeybee colony
produced wax was caused by the total of beeswax produced. A colony which
produced more beeswax could get more wax too. Meanwhile, honeycomb
production was also caused by queen bee age, total of eggs produced and
amount of feed around. Thus, the more colony members and feed were, the
more beeswax and wax were produced.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Conclusion
1. Black giant honeybee could not be breed modernly, but it could be
controlled by its natural supporting factors.
2. Production potential of black giant honeybee in producing colony,
honeycomb, honey and beeswax was very big and that might be used as a
job for people in forest area.
Suggestion
1. Pertaining to the research result, it is suggested that good
coordination from each professional competence should be improved and
applied in giant honey bee care.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researcher would express his profound sense of reverence to the
Head of LPPM University of Brawijaya and the Dean of Faculty of Animal
Husbandry for entrusting the researcher to do a research and seminar. His
gratitude also goes to the head of Koperasi Masyarakat (Kopmas) Madu
Sialang in KPHP KAMPAR KIRI for helping the researcher doing his research.
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