Characteristics of apiculture and meliponiculture in Banten Province, Indonesia: profile of beekeepers, bee and pollen diversity

Abstract

There have been reports of global bees declining in the past years. However, the information on bees declining in Indonesia is lacking. Apiculture and meliponiculture have been practiced in Indonesia for centuries. This study aimed to obtain data of beekeepers and the recent beekeeping situation, including stingless bee species and their plant resources in Banten Province. Interviews were carried out on beekeepers in Pandeglang and Lebak Regencies. Bees from interviewed beekeepers were collected and identified. Pollens attached to the bees were also identified at the family level. Apiculture and meliponiculture in Banten were entirely practiced by men in their productive ages (<5-year experience). Beekeepers placed the beehive around the house to keep an efficient observation and ensure the sufficiency of nutrition for the bees. Based on information collected from the beekeepers, pests and climate were to have affected the population of bees and production of honey. Bee that favored the most by beekeepers was Tetragonula laeviceps. Based on the pollen identification, Arecaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae were the most visited plant families by all bee species. Managed bees shared similar nutrition (nectar and pollen) resources. In addition, the beekeeping in Banten tends to increase in recent 5 years.