Nepal ‘s diverse climatic condition and wide range of flora makes it a host of five out of seven bee species found in the world. Out of them only two are domestic and the rest are wild species.
A brief description on each of the species is made below:
Apis cerana:
It is an indigenous and domestic species. It is friendly and suitable for hilly region. It can be reared up to an altitude of 3400 meters. Bees from this species are called Asian bee.
Apis melifera:
This species is domestic but imported from Europe . The bees from this species are friendly. Due to higher yield of honey and wax it is more in demand and popular than other species commercially. It can be reared at an altitude below 1500 meters. Bees from this species are called European bee.
Apis laboriosa:
This is a high altitude species, which is found at an altitude ranging from 1200 meter to 3500 meter. This species is wild and furious. It is found in limited number only. The honey from this species is harvested once a year and is known as rock honey.
As the honey from this species has unique taste and quality, it fetches higher value than the honey from other species. Similarly, it is popular and more in demand, particularly due to its wider medical values, than other species. Bees from this species are called Rock bee.
Apis dorsata:
It is a wild and furious species. It is common in the areas below 1000-meter altitude. Bees from this species are called Giant bee.
Apis florea:
This species is found at an altitude ranging from 300 meter to 500 meter. The bees from this species are of smaller size. It is a wild species and the bees from this species generally build their hives on the branch of trees. Bees from this species are called small bee.