Guest Editorial: International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates

Nicola Bradbear

Appearances are deceptive. Some types of tropical honey bees look pretty much like honey bees found in temperate zones. It is understandable that when beekeepers from colder climates first encounter tropical honey bees they endeavour to manage them in the way they know well. But tropical honey bees, even those species which will live in hives, have biology and behaviour different from temperate zone honey bees. They abscond readily. They swarm frequently. They experience different seasonal cycles. They face diverse predators and thus show appropriate defensive characteristics.