I traveled to Laos in 2005 and I took these 2 pictures. I think they are honeybees but I would appreciate confirmation.
(http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5536/bees2laosbx3.th.jpg) (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bees2laosbx3.jpg)
[img=http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5536/bees2laosbx3.th.jpg] (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bees2laosbx3.jpg)
Also I am interested in doing sustainable agricultural development work in northern Thailand and Laos. I am excited to explore apiculture with the purpose of providing employment and revenue to impoverished villagers. Does anyone have resources/experience with this idea?
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bee-keeping-t148167.html
take a look at this site. you might get better info from them.
Thailand seems to have a pretty good beekeeping thing going. husband has been there a few times in the last few years. good business in the markets, etc.
This site has some interesting information, and lots of ideas about hive products I haven't seen elsewhere.
Beekeeping and Sustainable Livelihoods, Nicola Bradbear
Agricultural Support Systems Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2004
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5110e/y5110e00.htm#Contents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_dorsata they are not european bees ;) RDY-B
Thailand and most of its neighbors have Apis dorasta. An 8 frame medium hive is plenty of space for them, being pint-sized.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on July 27, 2008, 12:08:31 AM
Thailand and most of its neighbors have Apis dorasta. An 8 frame medium hive is plenty of space for them, being pint-sized.
DORSATA lives on one big comb and are very big bees -I think maybe you are thinking of cerana which are small bees 8-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_cerana RDY-B
They are honey bees, Apis Dorsata. They are living wild, mono-comb, can't keep so far. Thailand is saturated, you should consider my country : Malaysia. I only owned 200+ hives, but this make up 20% of total country mellifera hives. Feel free to contact me for more details.
Quote from: rdy-b on July 27, 2008, 12:59:41 AM
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on July 27, 2008, 12:08:31 AM
Thailand and most of its neighbors have Apis dorasta. An 8 frame medium hive is plenty of space for them, being pint-sized.
DORSATA lives on one big comb and are very big bees -I think maybe you are thinking of cerana which are small bees 8-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_cerana RDY-B
You are correct, it was my error. Note to self, clean glasses and sweep cobwebs from mind before going on forum.
From what I've read in the ABJ, and as the others said, those are dorsata, or the giant honeybee. Not managable in a hive, and more aggressive. Really neat how they layer the comb with their bodies, it creates unique patterns due to their coloring.