The overview of honey bee diversity and health status in Asia

Abstract

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018. All rights reserved. Traditional honey bee hunting and beekeeping are vital to the economic and spiritual lives of Asians. Bee products are known as not only food/food supplement but also traditional medicine for aiming to promote good health, especially in eastern regions. Honey bees also play crucial roles in pollination. Asia is regarded as the homeland of honey bees as it hosts at least nine honey bee species. The European honey bee was introduced from Europe, North America, and Oceania to Russia, Japan, India and other countries in Asia. The growth of global human population size, globalized trade economic wealth, and technological developments in transportation efficacy has promoted the transmission of bee diseases, parasites and pests. A great concern over honeybee population decline has accelerated research in bee diseases, parasites, and pests. This chapter provides an up-to-date information on bee diseases, parasites, and pests in Asia.