The colonies of Apis florea have been seen less and less in the last couple of years
KHAIRPUR MIR’S: Khairpur Mirs is well known for its beautiful architecture. It is the only city of Sindh where there are date palm fruits. The orchards of the date palm trees are habitats of many living organisms such as squirrels, crows, honey bees, parrots and mynas. The honey bee is the only one which is on the verge of extinction because of the use of pesticides on date palm fruits.
There are two types of honey bees in Khairpur Mirs; the Apis florea and the Apis dorsata and both have their own distinct characteristics.
Albert Einstein once stated that, “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.” Seventy to ninety per cent eatable plants rely on pollinators. Definitely if there would be no bee then there will be no food. If there is no food then there will be no life.
The colonies of Apis florea have been seen less and less in the last couple of years. Many deaths have been caused by the attack of Apis dorsata in our city. All types of bees are essential for our ecosystem, but the Apis florea is on the verge of extinction. To save and prevent this from happening, all the relevant organisations such as the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council should promote awareness among people against the use of pesticide and DDT on date palm trees and agricultural fields to protect and enhance honeybees and their habitats, as well as to improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.
Naimatullah Gadhi
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2019.
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