The Rock bee, Apis dorsata
It is the largest of the honey bees. It builds an open single comb of huge size about a metre in diameter. The comb is fully exposed and hung from inaccessible branches of trees, along the sides of steep rocks in the forest and even from the walls, rafters and other parts of buildings. It produces plenty of honey and the annual yield from a colony is about 37 kg. The rock bee honey represents a major portion of the honey sold in our markets. It is impossible to domesticate it because of its irritable and ferocious nature, peculiar hives and its habit of deserting the hives often. But professional honey gatherers collect honey and wax from wild colonies, often killing the entire colony in the process.
The Indian bee, Apis cerana indica
It is the common Indian bee found both in the forests as well as in plains throughout our country. It is smaller than the rock bee but larger than the little bee. It builds many parallel combs in the cavities and hollows of trees, caves and such other hidden sites; the combs being parallel to the direction of entrance in the plains and at right angles to the entrance in cold regions. It is mild and capable of being domesticated and is commonly reared in south India. The annual yield of honey is 2 to 5 kg per colony. A queen can lay 350-1000 eggs per day. A race of this species is found in the hilly tracts of south India. The hill bee is larger in size and darker in colour than the plains race and has the habit of moving away from the broods even a slight disturbance.
The Little bee, Apis florea
It is known as the little bee since it is the smallest of the four species of Apis. It is seen only in the plains It also builds single but small combs on bushy plants and corners of roofs. It yields very little honey, abou 0.5 to 1 kg per year from a colony, and so, it is not domesticated and reared. A queen lays 323-365 eggs per day.
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