BANGALORE: A Banyan tree near Bangalore, which houses over 600 honey bee colonies, is all set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. Located at Ramagovindapura, near Nandagudi which is 36 kilometres from Bangalore on Chintamani Road, this tree houses the highest number of honey bee colonies.
Dr M S Reddy, professor, Department of Zoology, Centre for Apiculture Studies, Bangalore University, told Express that no match has been found in any part of the world.
The highest number of 625 bee colonies were counted in January 2008. Every year, the colony formation starts from December and lasts till February. There has been an increase in the number of colonies on this tree over the last 12 years.
The centre of apiculture studies and environmental specialists have also proposed the site, also called Apis Dorsata bee nest site, to be recognised as a world heritage site so that it could be preserved, and awareness about the significance of the bee colony can be created.
Interestingly, with such a huge number of colonies on a single habitat, tremendous increase in crop productivity of both agriculture, horticulture and the forest produce in the area has also been observed.
The villagers, obviously, benefit the most from the colonies and have been playing an active part in preserving the colonies.
It’s no wonder that the centre of apiculture studies has also found out that within a three-kilometre radius of this tree, there are as many as 2,200 bee colonies on about nine different trees in different villages.
Environmental expert A N Yellappa Reddy says that while in the urban areas residents prefer to have the bee hives removed, thanks to the villagers’ efforts, the colonies in this village are thriving.
More than the direct production of honey and bees wax, which fetch them `150 a kg, the villagers feel that the crop productivity has increased manifold and they have been selling their vegetables in the local market, particularly in Hoskote and other markets, at a premium price.