Honey Bees (Apis Spp.): Biology, Pollination Services, Colony Health, Threats and Conservation in Indian Agroecosystems- A Narrative Review

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis spp.) are important social insects whose ecological and agricultural significance arises primarily from pollination, honey production and their contribution to ecosystem functioning. This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on honey bee biology, colony organisation, foraging behaviour, pollination services, nutrition, colony health and conservation, with particular emphasis on Indian agroecosystems. The literature indicates that colony performance is determined by interacting biological, environmental and management factors rather than by individual stressors acting independently. Adequate and diverse floral resources support nutrition and colony development, whereas pathogens, parasites, pesticides, climatic variability and habitat modification can influence survival, behaviour, immunity, foraging and reproductive performance. Indian studies demonstrate the importance of managed and wild Apis species in agricultural pollination while also highlighting species-specific differences in ecology and management. Recent evidence increasingly emphasises chronic and sublethal pesticide effects, microbiome-mediated health, multi-stressor interactions and landscape-level approaches to pollinator conservation. Sustainable apiculture therefore requires integrated pest management, disease and parasite surveillance, protection of diverse floral resources, responsible colony movement and conservation of natural and semi-natural habitats. Future Indian research should prioritise standardised colony-health indicators, species-specific investigations and long-term monitoring that integrates pollination ecology, environmental stressors and landscape management.