A haven for bees
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The Asian region, being in the tropics is high in pollinator diversity. Its rich vegetation and mild climate supports the population of pollinators. Solitary and social bees are among the important pollinator species. Other insect pollinators are butterfly, moth, beetle and fly. Birds and mammals pollinate bigger flowers, However, honey bees are the most widely studied species of pollinators. Of the 12 species of honeybees, 11 are native to Asia.
In Asia, the most significant threats to local honey bee populations are deforestation, excessive hunting pressure, loss of nest sites, parasites and pathogens, climate change, forest fire, pesticides, street lighting, anthropogenic movement, tourism and competition with introduced Apis mellifera. Despite the importance of pollinators to agriculture, scientific data regarding the pollinators in the region, including native bee species have been limited and were generated using widely varying methods. |
