AGRIKULTURA CRI Journal 1 (1) ISSN: 2782-8816 January 2021 UTILIZATION and COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION of STINGLESS BEES and I
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AGRIKULTURA CRI Journal 1 (1) ISSN: 2782-8816 January 2021 UTILIZATION AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF STINGLESS BEES AND ITS PRODUCTS IN BICOL, PHILIPPINES Maria Dulce J. Mostoles1*, Allan B. del Rosario1, Lilia C. Pasiona2, and Roberto R. Buenaagua3 1College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Pili, Camarines Sur, 4418, Philippines 2College of Arts and Sciences, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Pili, Camarines Sur, 4418, Philippines 3Regional Apiculture Center , Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Pili, Camarines Sur, 4418, Philippines *Corresponding author: [email protected] _________________________________________________________________ Abstract — Upscaling meliponiculture can increase income through the utilization and commercial production of the bee and its products. This includes improved and sustained production with the abundant colony and pollen sources, enhanced pollination, and developing health and wellness products from stingless bees. The research objectives were: map out the geographical distribution, abundance, and morphological characterization of stingless bees in the Bicol Region; determine the pollen sources of bees in meliponaries and bloom pattern in the area; determine the pollination efficiency by stingless bees on pigeon pea; and, develop food and cosmetic products from stingless bees. Stingless bee colonies were sighted in all provinces in Bicol. Geographical locations were: Albay (Daraga), Camarines Norte (San Lorenzo Ruiz), Camarines Sur (Goa, Iriga, Tinambac), Catanduanes (Viga, Bagamanoc, Panganiban), Masbate (Aroroy), Sorsogon (Bulusan, Casiguran, Pilar, Prieto Diaz) but most abundant in Albay. Open nested colonies with clustered brood are T. sapiens while closed nested colonies with spherical brood are T. biroi. Acetolyzed bee bread from different meliponaries confirmed the pollen sources and documented the plant species, raw pollen, acetolyzed pollen, and bloom pattern. Pollination efficiency with 15 adult bees on pigeon pea flowers was 96.88%. Food and cosmetic products using pollen, propolis, and honey that were developed include moisturizing creams, propolis sprays, hand sanitizers, bath soaps and shampoo bars, macaroons with honey, polvoron with pollen, and honey-propolis candies. Three (3) IEC materials were distributed in trainings, exhibits, and fora. Keywords — Stingless bees distribution, product utilization, pollen sources, pollination. _________________________________________________________________ AGRIKULTURA CRI Journal 1 (1) ISSN: 2782-8816 January 2021 INTRODUCTION there will be a need to process and utilize these products either for food, The Bicol region is blessed with two medicine, or skincare. For the past 12 major indigenous species of bees, years, commercial production of T. namely Apis cerana and Tetragonula biroi mushroomed in the region, with biroi which are found abundantly in its no less than 20 meliponaries forests. Numerous research have established (Mostoles et al, 2015). been done by the Central Bicol State However, only a few sustained the University of Agriculture being the industry due to abiotic and biotic Regional Apiculture Center (RAC) in constraints. The availability of the feral upscaling the beekeeping technology colonies in some areas has been done particularly the stingless bees which and the species were identified. are indigenous in the region. Results of Morphological analysis of stingless investigations paved the way to the bees collected from the provinces of development of technology on Camarines Sur and Albay was carried stingless bees, referred to as out in 2008 with eight species noted Meliponiculture. In 2013, cultural and now with ongoing studies on the practices have been published by bioinformatics of stingless bees. The Mostoles. performance of stingless bees in The stingless bees locally known as different hives and ecosystems were “lukot” produce honey, propolis, pollen, evaluated. Pollen sources identified Royal jelly, and wax. Numerous were coconut, guava, citrus, mango, benefits derived from its products such pili, avocado, neem tree, star apple, as honey, propolis, and pollen have jackfruit and banana, Wedelia, been documented. To wit: honey as Chromalaena, Mimosa, gumamela, an effective cure for asthma and other shanghai beauty, santan, eggplant, respiratory diseases, bee glue or pepper, squash, corn, and other weed propolis with antimicrobial properties, species. Previous documentation by and bee pollen as a protein source. Mostoles and Ruiz (2010) was done on These products were likewise pollination of Jatropha, effects of developed by the university such as propolis on skin irritations, wounds, the cream and astringent (Mostoles and scratches, but required clinical and Ruiz, 2010), but massive analysis. commercialization is still wanting. No comprehensive study and Investigations are being made on documentation on the distribution, Royal jelly and wax. With the stingless pollen sources, and pollination bees’ high survival and low absconding efficiency of the stingless bees is rates, the nucleus can be produced available in the region. This information commercially, utilized for pollination could serve as a basis and useful contracts to generate additional income guide for future beekeepers not only in for food security, especially by the the Bicol region but in other parts of the marginal farmers. country. The objectives of the research For the sustainability of this were: a. Mapping the distribution and emerging agro-industry, utilization and abundance of stingless bee in the wild commercialization efforts must be and identify the species found in the done. Technology adaptation and different provinces of the region; b. verification can be initiated by knowing Identify the pollen sources of stingless the distribution of the stingless bees in bees in the wild and in meliponaries; c. the wild, its pollen sources, and the Determine the pollination efficiency of bloom pattern in meliponaries, crop stingless bees on pigeon pea; and, d. pollination efficiency. When good Develop and improve food and apicultural practices are developed and cosmetic products from stingless bees. the yield of by-products has increased, 2 AGRIKULTURA CRI Journal 1 (1) ISSN: 2782-8816 January 2021 MATERIALS AND METHODS pollination, the flower of pigeon pea is exposed to the pollinators such as Distribution and Relative wasp, butterfly, and bees; Treatment 2- Abundance of Stingless Bees in the No bees were introduced and the Bicol Region flowers were caged to represent the All the provinces in the region were control; Treatment 3- Five (5) surveyed for the presence of feral individuals of stingless bees were colonies of stingless bees in the wild introduced per caged branch of pigeon and meliponaries. Documentation of pea bearing flower; Treatment 4- Ten the nesting sites, hive entrance, and (10) individuals of stingless bees were hive architecture was done, and 25 introduced per caged branch of pigeon adult bees were collected for pea bearing flower; Treatment 5 - morphological examination and Fifteen (15) individuals of stingless identification. Location (coordinates bees were introduced per caged branch and elevation) of the nests were of pigeon pea bearing flower. Before determined using the Garmin GPS caging and introduction of bees, each 12XL with maps generated. branch serving as the sample was first evaluated by counting the number of Pollen Sources of Stingless Bees closed flowers. For each treatment, the and Bloom Pattern corresponding numbers of stingless Pollen from the bee bread was bees were introduced inside the cage. collected from meliponaries in For T1, the branches were labelled and Sorsogon (Castilla, Casiguran, PIlar), the no. of flowers counted. For T2, the Masbate (Aroroy and San Pascual, no. of flowers in the sample branch was Burias) , Catanduanes (San Andres), counted and enclosed in the cage Camarines Norte (San Lorenzo Ruiz, without any pollinators inside. Daily Camarines Sur (Pamplona, Gainza, monitoring of the cage was done until Bula, Pili), and Albay (Guinobatan, the flowers were pollinated and until the Ligao City). The strength of these fruit set was initiated. The pollinated apiaries differed based on the number flowers were counted as well as the of colonies cultured and the suitability total number of flowers and the of their surroundings. Acetolysis of the percentage pollination efficiency was bee bread samples was done in the computed and documented. laboratory. A drop of glycerine was Food and Cosmetic Products from added to the acetolyzed sample, Stingless Bees mounted on a slide, and examined under the microscope. Photo Food products were developed documentation of the identified raw and making use of either or a combination acetolyzed pollen was done. Flowering of the by-products such as propolis, plants (trees, shrubs, etc) in the pollen, and honey. Sensory evaluation meliponaries were noted and the time of the products followed by packaging of flowering was recorded. and labelling were done. The project focused on developing cosmetic Pollination of Pigeon Pea products such as soap, shampoo bar, Field evaluation of the pollination hand sanitizers, and throat spray. efficiency of pigeon pea by stingless Previously developed moisturizing bees was done at San Jose, Pili, cream was enhanced. As the research Camarines Sur. There were five is on technology adaptation and treatments: Treatment 1- Open type of verification,