Wild Bees : Traditional Honey Harvesting in Cambodia.

Wild Bees : Traditional Honey Harvesting in Cambodia. 

Apis Dorsata, the Giant Honey Bee, is a honey bee of southern and southeastern Asia living mainly in forested areas. Each colony consists of a single vertical comb (sometimes approaching a square metre) suspended from above, and the comb is typically covered by a dense mass of bees in several layers. When disturbed, the workers may exhibit a defensive behavior known as defense waving. Bees in the outer layer thrust their abdomens ninety degrees in an upward direction and shake them in synch. This may be accompanied by stroking of the wings. The signal is transmitted to nearby workers that also adopt the posture, creating a ripple effect across the face of the comb. Honey hunters use a smoker. Here the smoker is made entirely from natural materials found in the forest. Smoke calms bees; it initiates a feeding response in anticipation of possible hive abandonment due to fire. Indigenous peoples have traditionally used this species of bee as a source of honey and beeswax.