Zoology Paper- XV

(Applied Zoology )

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Dr. M. B. Sajjan

Raje Ramrao Mahavidyalaya, Jath

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Apiculture

Introduction:

Use of Honey

Social organization of bees.

Old method of extraction of honey

Invention of artificial hives

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Apiculture is the scientific method of rearing honeybees to produce honey. The basic principal of apiculture is to use artificial bee hive and provide facilities for building combs by the honeybees. The person who look after the bees are known as beekeeper and his group of hive as the apiary.

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Definition

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Kingdom Animalia

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Subkingdom Metazoa

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Phylum Arthropoda

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Class Insecta

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Order Hymenoptera

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Family Apidae

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A. dorsata

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A. Indica

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A. florea

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A. mellifera

Classification

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• Largest bee
• Maximum yield
• Active and irritable
• Difficult to domesticate

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• Smaller than A.dorsata
• Less yield
• Prefer to live in dark
• Gentle in nature
• Easily domesticated

• Smaller than A.indica
• Yields very small amount of honey
• Stinging behavior is rare

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• Smaller than A.dorsata
• Produce less honey than A.dorsata
• Best bee from commercial point of view
• Italian Variety is reared everywhere in Europe and America in artificial hives.

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A. dorsata (Rock bee)

A.indica(Indian bee)

A.florea(Little bee)

A. mellifera (European bee)

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Highly Social Insects

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Society /Colony consist different cast

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The colony of 10 to 16000 individuals contains

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Single Queen

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5000 to 6000 Drones

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Rest of workers

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Strong Colony

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Maximum number of Workers

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Weak Colony

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Minimum number of Workers

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Casts of honeybee

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Bee hive/Honey comb

Generally built hanging down vertically on branches/trees/Rocks/Building

Contains two layers of hexagonal cells

Made of bee wax

Secreted by Wax gland of worker bees

Storage Cells

• Situated in upper portion
• About 5mm wide
• Use for storage of honey

Brood Cells

Occupies central and lower portion

In A.dorsata brood cells are of similar size and shape but in other types they are of three types

Queen cells

Cells are vase like or Cylindrical

lies Vertically Large in size

Use for rearing of Queen

Drone cells

They lies Horizontally

6mm wide

Use for rearing of drone

Workers cells

They lies Horizontally

same size as storage cell

Use for rearing of Worker

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Sting Apparatus

• It is modified ovipositor found only in female bees.
• It is used for injecting venom.
• The actual sting encloses a poison canal in the centre bounded by a style sheath and two stylets.
• The tip of the stylets and the sheath are covered by pointed barbs or spines.
• The sheath enlarges to form a bulb at the base.
• The stylets form a basal arms.
• There are three sets of plates on either side serving as levers.
• They are oblong plate, fulcral plate, and quadrate plate.
• There are two glands associated with the sting.

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• A poison gland which secretes acidic secretion and small alkaline gland.
• A large poison sac stores the poison or venom and it opens into the anterior end of the sting bulb.
• Bee venom is a colourless, acidic liquid.
• Bees excretes it through their stingers into target when they feel threatened.
• It contains both anti-inflammatory and inflammatory compounds, including enzymes, sugars, minerals and amino acids.
• Ordinarily bee venom is not toxic and will cause local pains and swelling.
• Allergic reaction comes when the immune system is over sensitized to the venom and produces antibodies to it.
• Histamines and other substances released into blood stream, causing blood vessel to dilate and tissue to swell.
• Bee venom is given as shot for rheumatoid arthritis, nerve pain(neuralgia), multiple sclerosis, swollen tendons(tendonitis)and muscle conditions such as fibromyositis and enthesitis

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Modern Bee hive

• Modern bee hive based on certain principles known as ‘movable frame hive’
• Hive is made up of wooden box, may be singe or double walled hive.
• Single walled hive is light, cheap and easy to handle so it is more common.
• Double walled hive is heavy, costly, however it is more durable and provide better protection.
• The insulation provided by a single walled hive is not enough to tolerate the fluctuations of atmospheric changes outside.
• Double walled hive with sufficient insulation keep the hive warm during winter and cool in summer.

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• Modern hive has a basal plate or bottom board on which is placed a wood box called the ‘Brood Chamber’.
• A bottom pore in brood chamber acts as bee entrance.
• Inside, the brood chamber has several frames hanging vertically from the top, these frames can be removed independently.
• The distance between two frames is known as ‘bee space’, this space serves as passage for the movement of the bees.
• There is another similar chamber above the brood chamber called as ‘super’. This chamber is meant for the storage of honey only, here queen entry is not allowed.
• On the top of super there is an inner covering and then roof.
• Different types of hive used in different parts of the world.
• In India generally, three types of bee hive namely Langstroth, Newton and Jeolikote are in practice.

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• Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth father of modern bee keeping techniques, USA.
• It contains vertically hung frames, a bottom board for entrance for the bees.
• Boxes containing frames for brood and honey
• It consist inner as well as top cover to provide weather protection.
• In Langstroth bee hive, bees built comb into frames. Frames are designed to prevent bees from attaching honeycombs
• This model patented in 1852.
• The standard bee hive used in many parts of the world for bee keeping is based on Langstroth hive.

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Newton models of bee hive

• A smaller beehive called a Newton hive is used for Apis cerena.
• It is constructed in the same way with seven to ten frames in each chamber
• The dimensions of both hives and frames are smaller than those of Langstroth hive.
• It is more appropriate for the smaller bees

Equipment's used for bee keeping

• Equipment's needs vary with the size of operation, number of colonies, and the types of honey you plan to produce.
• The basic equipment you need are the components of bee hive, protective devices, smoker and hive tool.
• Bee brush
• Honey extractor
• Feeder
• Hive entrance guard
• Smoker
• Bee veil
• Bee gloves etc.

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Extraction of Honey

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Step 1: Remove Honey Frames From Hives

The first step is to take the frames of honey from the hives. The number of frames depends on many factors including strength of the colony, weather, and amount of nectar available to the bees. Be sure to wear protective gear when removing frames of honey from hives. The boxes filled with honey can be heavy so remove them one frame at a time. Gently brush off the bees from the comb and place them in a cart that is wheeled to the garage.

Step 2: The Equipment - Garage Set Up

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It can extract up to 4 frames at one time. Additional equipment includes a heated knife and capping scratcher for remove wax cappings on the frames. A tarp is taped to the floor to keep things clean... A five gallon bucket with strainer is ready for extracted honey.

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Step 3: Uncapping the Frames

Honeybees preserve the honey by capping it in wax cells. To extract the honey, the tops of the cells, or caps, need to be removed. Most frames have honey on both sides, so each side needs to be uncapped. The photos show uncapped frames stored in bin ready to be uncapped. Then uncapping with the hot knife. Next the cap scratcher is use to pick out any cells that have not been opened.  Uncapped frames are ready to go into the extractor!

Step 4: Spinning the Frames

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Four uncapped frames are placed into the extractor and are held in a metal mesh basket. The lid is closed and the handle cranked for a minute or more. The honey is forced out of the comb and drips down the inside of the extractor. Once the spinning stops, the frames are taken out and flipped so that honey is removed from the other side of the frame.

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Step 5: Extraction

When honey starts filling up the bottom of the extractor, it is necessary to open up the valve and let honey flow into the waiting bucket!! Quality testing is an extremely important task.

Step 6: First the Filter Then the Jar...

More uncapping, more spinning, more tasting.. Eventually the bucket fills The honey is filtered through a paint strainer. The bucket has a latch near the bottom that can be opened and closed for filling jars.

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Step 7: Melting the Wax

There is a lot of honey and wax in the cappings that were cut off the frames. The wax is used for making lotions and furniture polish..

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Honey

• It is truly an insect product of high nutritive value.
• The food value of honey may be estimated by the presence of about 80 % sugar in it.
• Despite of modern technical knowledge human being cannot manufacture it artificially.
• It is aromatic viscous sweet material derived from nectar of plants, it is modified and stored as denser liquid.
• Cane sugar(Sucrose) is converted in to invert sugars i.e. Dextrose and laevulose.
• Honey is very much sweet in taste varies in color and smell in accordance with juices collected from different flowers.

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• after long duration in stored condition the honey may be granulated and fermented.

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Food value

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2.1gm of honey provides as much as 67 Kcal of energy.

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It sugars, minerals, vitamins and other vital elements readily absorb by the system

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Taken by healthy as well as ill persons.

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Taken at any time at any season.

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In illness it is preferred over milk.

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It is highly appreciated as food for infants and age.

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Useful to increase the stamina of race horses.

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Taken by athlete for regain of energy.

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Used in preparation of bread, cake and biscuits.

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Is used in tea, coffee instead of sugars.

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It is estimated that 200gm of honey provide as much nourishment as 11.5 lit of milk or 1.6 kg cream or 3.33 gm of meat

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Economic Importance of Honey

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• Honey is mildly laxative, antiseptic and sedative generally used in Ayurveda and unani system of medicine.
• It helps to built hemoglobin.
• It is used as preventative as cough, cold and fever
• As blood purifier
• As curative for ulcers on tongue and alimentary canal
• Its regular use recommended for malnutrition in digestion and diabetes.
• It is also found typhoid germs are killed by honey within 48 hours, Branchio- pneumonia in 4 days and of dysentery in 50 hours
• It is natural antiseptic
• Prevent infection if applied on wounds.
• Other Uses
• Is used in making alcoholic drinks, Wine, Skin beauty lotions
• In laboratory honey is used to stimulate growth of plants, the bacterial culture
• It is used in insect diet.
• Used in preparation of poison baits for fruit flies.
• It is widely used poultry and fishing industry.

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Honey as Medicine

Pearl culture

Introduction

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Molluscs – Land and water reservoir like sea, fresh water and brackish water.

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Used for food, shells and pearl industries.

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Pearl is white, highly shining globular concretion found within the shell of an oyster.

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Since antiquity, pearl has been reputed as one of the rarest gems.

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Sanskrit literature- Swati nakshtra

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Rare occurrence due to mode of formation.

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• Pearl is known to Chinese since 2300 B.C.

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• Kautilya and Shakespeare – literature

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• Researchers engaged in pearl culture- Natural pearl.

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History of Pearl industry-

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• Idea of pearl industry evoked in Japan (South coast of Hansoo).

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• Kokichi Mikimoto (1858-1954)- Father of pearl industry in Japan.

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• In 1890 an exhibition on Annual domestic industrial promotion in Tokyo

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• 1890- Island of Taba, 1893-Uma, patent

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• Tokichi Nishikava Misaki Marine Biological Laboratory of Tokyo University- Spherical artificial pearl

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Classification

Phylum Mollusca

Class Bivaliva

Family Petriidae

Genus Pinctada

• Over 200 different species of Oysters
• Edible Oysters and Pearl Oysters
• Edible Oysters – 3 genera namely Ostrea, Crussotrea and pycnodonta

In India- C.madrasensis, C.cucullata, C. discoidea, C. gryphoides

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Species of oyster

• Indian water resources
• P. vulgaris (Schumacher)- Gulf of Kutch, Manar, Palk Bay and Baroda
• P. Chemnitizi (Philippi)
• P. margaritafera (Linn)
• P. anomiodes (Reeve)
• P. atropurpurea(Dunker)
• Other marine and fresh water molluscs produce pearls- Ear shell (Haliotis Linn), Sea mussel (Mytilus Linn), Windowpane oyster(Placuna blacenta Linn).
• P. margaritafera and P. maxima - giant species – pearl of bigger size-but of inferior quality

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Process of pearl formation

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Natural Process

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• Interesting phenomenon for protection against foreign invaders, parasites, sand grains, small broken twig of sea weeds, small insect accidently entering – mantle – mantle epithelium once encloses – secret concentric layers of nacre – for defense – several layers – pearl formed.

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V. S. of Shell

• Periostracum –

Outer layer formed of horny conchyolin which is substance related to chitin.

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• Prismatic layer -

It consist of a small prism like deposit of calcite seprated by thin layer of conchyolin.

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• Nacreous layer-

Innermost layer formed of calcium carbonate called as mother of pearl

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Artificial process/ Programming of pearl industry

• This process is much technical, complicated and time taking-
• Collection of oysters
• Ama- proper training-suit- hand net – 5 meter depth- collection of oysters by nets- wodden bucket – left wrist- 2-10 oysters –best time-early morning to mid day- summer season – boat – oyster segregation- 3 years old sent in shallow water –April-May- eggs hatched artificially- special cage 84x54x20 cm-cages suspended 6 meters- July- November

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Rearing of oysters

• Rearing cage - 4-6 smaller chambers – metal mesh with cotton netting – protected from natural enemies – octopus, eel, devil fish- cleaned and placed in culture cages- 10-20 days – recover from strain – handling-physiological adjustments- to shallow water conditions

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Insertion of nucleus

• Technical process – number of methods- Nishikows method – following steps-

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• Fitness of oyster for operation-

Healthy, strong- gonads rid off- cold and hot waters-before operation kept under stress of suffocation- open shell-bamboo peg inserted

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• Preparation of graft tissue –
• The piece of tissue inserted inside the mantle is called graft tissue
• A strip of 7x0.75 cm is cut from edge of mantle cavity
• 2 -3 cm long narrow strip cut transversally in to smaller pieces of nucleus for insertion

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• Insertion of nucleus

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• These squares are kept in sea water at 22 degree centigrade up to 48 hrs

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• Outer surface must be known

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• Mantle and outer surface must be in contact

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Preparation of nucleus

• Calcareous nucleus is best because the deposition of nacre

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• Easily available in India

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• Japan depends on USA

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• Spherical nucleus is best for the formation of good quality of spherical pearl

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Insertion of nucleus

• Oysters are fixed in desk clamp in position of right valve facing upwards
• Mantle folds are smoothly touched to expose the foot and the main body mass
• Followed by incision into epithelium foot and slender channel into the main mass
• Suddenly one graft tissue piece is inserted
• For the insertion of the second nucleus similar operation is performed
• Trained girl operate25-40 oysters per hour, they are called TOMARINE SON means miss nucleus pusher

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Post operational care

Recovery period

• Nucleated oysters are placed in to cages and suspended into sea water to depth of 2-3 meters for about 6-7 days to recover from shock due to operation.
• Examination of oysters, dead individuals are removed from cages, examined by X-Ray
• About 3000-3600 nucleated oysters are kept in different cages suspended in sea water 2-3 meters depth for 3-6 years
• Pearl oyster grows best in warm shallow waters generally not more than 14 meter deep

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Harvesting of pearl

Composition of pearl

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Importance of pearl

• Pearl is known as ‘ queen of gems’ and considered as symbol of beauty, love, purity and good wealth.
• Pearls were considered as an exclusive privilege of royalty and throughout history held presence within wealthy and powerful people.
• Pearl and oyster shell have long been used as jewellery items by human
• The shell itself often worked either into simple jewellery or more complex furniture and other decorative items
• Historically the largest use of the pearl resource was for mother of pearl, also called nacre, this shell material was used for buttons.
• Pearl jewellery is worn with good wishes.
• Given as jewellery gift.
• Pearl jewellery are perfect for any women, conveying your care and love.

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Thank You