Prototype development for composite mud house for Apis cerana using local ingredients to conserve indigenous beekeeping

Abstract

Apis cerana indica, an indigenous bee of Himalayan region used to inhabit mud houses since time immemorial. These traditional wall hives are commonly known as Khadra, Jaala or Jalota. But, since last two decades, the population of Apis cerana is drastically declining due to increasing modern cement houses. This is the main reason of demolition of habitat of Apis cerana. Decreasing population of Apis cerana tends toward the loss of our social and cultural heritage. During current study efforts were made to design low cost, eco-friendly movable mud houses for Apis cerana to conserve the traditional beekeeping.