Apis cerana japonica

[Joseph Clemens]

Very interested. I very much enjoy and appreciate this thread.

[arthur]

Here is the latest pic of the hive:

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/...sonroof001.jpg

The same hive is on the far right in this picture. It is the only hive that actually has bees in it:

http://s1047.photobucket.com/albums/...sonroof004.jpg

Not much to report other than that the bees are flying and active. And not glowing.

[arthur]

further updates on a.c. japonica will be on me and my father's bee blog. I think my father is hoping for some conversation and feedback, so comments/questions welcome.

[JRing]

Enjoyed reading your post, and will look at yall's blog.
I do have a question. Has any of the A. cerana japonica or other asian honeybees been exported/imported to the states?
I wondered how they faired agianist the Varroa mites? SHB if there are any in Japan?
I have a couple hives of mixed A.M. bees, as well being in a swampy area with A.M.M's flying around my feeders and various plants.

[arthur]

I believe japonica is highly resistent to Varroa, having evolved with it. Isn't varroa thought to have arrived in the US from some kind of Asian importation/infestation? So I'm fairly certain that importation of japonica is banned. Plus japonica has little commercial value, as they don't take to Langstroth hives well and are very prone to swarm. I don't know about SHB. If you pose your questions to my father on one of his posts on the blog (just updated today btw), I'm sure he will answer you more specifically.

[JRing]

I am not sure how the V mite arrived in the states. I will investagate, and look into it. I just a curious fellow. I am an education major (math/science), so I am always looking for lesson plan ideas, that I think students will enjoy.
I can't find much about cerana imports to the states, other than they kill the Giant Hornet, which I have seen in documentories, AWESOME! Those things are scary, I would RUN away fast if I saw one.
I just wondered about the SHB in Japan, since they have closed imports of EU bees. I know they came here via Florida by way of Africa. Florida seems to be a gateway for introducing aliens (non-native animals) to our eco-system. I did not know, if all species of cerana were banned. As I know some species in India are used in honey producton. I enjoyed yall's blog.
Thanks

[DelawareJim]

Very cool thread Arthur. Thanks.

Cheers.
Jim

[arthur]

My understanding is that apis m. do not do all that well in Japan. It takes a lot of TLC to keep the hives going according to reports from my father who has talked to beekeepers in Japan.

I'm looking forward to my first taste of japonica honey, which I understand is a different experience than apis m. honey.

Btw, it's not that japonica doesn't make honey you can eat, it's that it's not suited for large commercial production.

[arthur]

japonica cutout placed in langstroth style hives...
http://bees.arthurwestover.com/?p=399

[Stacykins]

japonica cutout placed in langstroth style hives...
http://bees.arthurwestover.com/?p=399

Too cool! Thanks for sharing! Too bad I didn't know of Apis cerana japonica when I lived in Yokosuka, I would have loved to learn about them firsthand! Even if my spoken Japanese was rusty back then, it was less rusty than it is now!

[arthur]

my father's recent updates and pics from Japan...
our shared blog:

http://bees.arthurwestover.com/

[arthur]

My father took a photo of this japonica swarm. Successfully hived.

Our blog: http://bees.arthurwestover.com/