Browsing by Author "Kasina, M.J."
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Item Pollen Harvesting, Processing, and Packaging(Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, 2024) Kasina, M.J.; Toroitich, D.; Mulwa, J.M.; Onyango, I.A.; Guantai, M.M.; Ndung’u, N.N.; Kinyanjui, J.M.; Nyambati, E.; Mungube, E.O.; Changwony, D.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationPollen are the tiny, male reproductive units that form in the anthers of flowering plants. The majority of flowering plants on the planet today require that their pollen be transferred onto the receptive stigma of flowers (pollination) by wind, water, birds, bats, butterflies, beetles and bees, the most important species. Bees collect pollen using specialized body parts for their use to feed brood. The pollen available for pollination is freely attached to bee body hairs. The characteristics of bee pollen will depend upon the plants from which it is gathered. Some bee species visit only a single species of flower in one trip meaning the pollen pellets (one on each leg) will tend to be all from the same type of plant and uniform in color and can range from white to black. While pollen provides almost all the bees proteins and nutrients, there is no single type of plant that produces bee pollen that will have all the vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins in exactly the right ratios for optimum honey bee health. As a result, a bee colony will tend to forage on a variety of pollen sources and bee pollen will tend to be a mixture of pollen from all the different species of plants that the colony’s foragers are able to visit.Item Stingless Bee Apiary(Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, 2024) Kasina, M.J.; Ndung’u, N.N.; Toroitich, D.; Mulwa, J.M.; Onyango, I.A.; Guantai, M.M.; Kinyanjui, J.M.; Kimani, C.W.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationA stingless bee apiary, also known as a meliponary, is a managed location where stingless bee hives and colonies are kept and maintained for stingless beekeeping. Such an apiary can take various forms, including a tree with multiple stingless bee hives, a tree with a single stingless bee hive, a house where hives are hung on rafters or walls, or specialized housing structures designed specifically for stingless bees.Item Stingless Bee Honey Harvesting, Processing, Packaging, and Storage(Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization., 2024) Kasina, M.J.; Ndung’u, N.N.; Toroitich, D.; Mulwa, J.M.; Onyango, I.A.; Guantai, M.M.; Kinyanjui, J.M.; Kimani, C.W.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.Stingless bees produce honey from the nectar of flowering plants. This honey is more liquid than that of honey bees due to the high water content. Additionally, each stingless bee species has specific honey characteristics including taste and colour. This specificity is brought about by the variation of plants visited by the different species. Stingless bees produce highly medicinal honey and propolis. The two products have been shown to have antioxidants and antibacterial activities and thus are of economic and medical importance. These properties have made stingless bees popular in addition to the appealing aroma and flavour. Harvesting is the art of removing stingless bee honey from the hives, and consequently from the honey pots. Stingless bee honey harvesting involves removing honey pots very carefully using a knife, placing the pots in the bowl, and then closing the hive. The pots are then squeezed or pricked using a sharp object to remove the honey. The honey is then put in a clean food grade container for further processing.Item Stingless Bee Species and Their Hives(Apiculture and Beneficial Insects Research Institute, KALRO, 2024) Kasina, M.J.; Toroitich, D.; Mulwa, J.M.; Onyango, I.A.; Guantai, M.M.; Ndung’u, N.N.; Kinyanjui, J.M.There are more than 12 stingless bee species in Kenya. Those commonly kept for honey production include; Meliponula bocandei, Meliponula ferruginea-reddish, Meliponula togoensis, Meliponula lendliana, Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigona gribodoi. Dactlurina schimidti, a species found in the coastal region is an important pollinator of wild and crop plants, although it has not been domesticated for honey production. Meliponula bocandei, M. togoensis, M. ferruginea nest in tree cavities, while M. lendliana and P. hildebrandti nest in underground cavities. Plebeina hildebrandti have been shown to nest near termite mounds. This means that, the stingless bee species have specific nest requirements.Item Types of Bee Hives(Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, 2024) Kasina, M.J.; Toroitich, D.; Mulwa, J.M.; Onyango, I.A.; Guantai, M.M.; Ndung’u, N.N.; Kinyanjui, J.M.; Kimani, C.W.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationA bee hive is a structure that houses bee colonies. The following hives are the most commonly used in Kenya and beekeepers can adopt any depending on the availability and preference.
