UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN Zoology
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)

SYLLABUS

Semester V - Application Oriented Subject I - Sericulture & Apiculture I

Duration of Examination: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Unit I

Bee keeping down the ages - Present status of Apiculture in India - Species of honey bees. Embryology and life history - Anatomy and Physiology of honeybee.

Unit II

Bee colony, Castes. Natural colonies and their yield. Types of beehives - structure - location, care and management - Genetic studies - breeding of stocks - winterbroods.

Unit III

Bee foraging: Pollen and nectar yielding plants. Honey extraction, seasonal maintenance, swarming and supersedure - pheromone.

Unit IV

Natural enemies and diseases of honey bees and control methods. Bee poisoning and utility of bees in toxicity studies. Economics of Apiculture and Management.

Unit V

Hotiey yield in national and international market. Prospects of apiculture as self employment venture. Preparing proposals (Layout and budget) for financial assistance and funding agencies. Uses of honey and beeswax in Indian medicine.

Students must be exposed to Apiculture units and submit a report along with other practical records.

REFERENCE:

1. Sardar Singh. Bee keeping in India

2. Cherian and Ramanathan, S. Bee keeping in South India

3. Sharma P.L. and Singh, S.H. and Book of Bee keeping

4. Honey - A comprehensive survey - International Bee Research Association for House - CNRC (England)

5. Roger, A. Morse, 1990. The ABC and XYZ of Bee culture, 40^th edition, A.I.Root & Co., Medina, Ohio 44256. 516 pp.