Distribusi, Karakteristik Habitat, dan Preferensi Tempat Bersarang Lebah Madu Apis florea di Tiga Kabupaten di Jawa Timur serta Pemanfaatannya Sebagai Book Chapter

Abstract

Apis florea, the red dwarf honeybee, has a brownish-orange abdomen and a small body size. The existence of A. florea in Indonesia is rarely explored. Thus, its distribution, nesting plant preferences, and habitat in Indonesia remain unpublished. This study aims to discover the distribution, habitat characteristics, and nest plant preferences of A. florea in three regencies in East Java Province. Honey bee exploration was conducted in Gresik Regency, Jombang Regency, and Lamongan Regency. The recorded colonies were mapped based on collected coordinate data. Habitat characteristic data, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, and altitude above sea level, were measured. The nesting plants and nest characteristics were recorded to understand nesting preferences. The results of this exploration were used as material to compose a book chapter, which was validated by an expert. This study found five colonies of A. florea, with two colonies each from Gresik and Lamongan Regencies, and one colony from Jombang Regency. Four colonies built their nests on Bambusa sp., and one colony built a nest on Phyllanthus reticulatus. Apis florea constructed the nest combs on small twigs with a mean diameter of 1.33±0.4cm and tended to use flat twigs, with a slope of 98.4±8.7°. The preferred nesting plants have a medium-wide canopy measuring 2.6-13.2 m. The average nest height from ground level was 1.7±0.9 m. The surrounding area had a medium-high temperature of 39.36°C, humidity of approximately 43.33%, and an average light intensity of 15075±31713 lux. The validation score from the expert was 88.1%, placing it in the very feasible category. Apis florea ability to survive in extreme conditions can be advantageous, as their ecological role as natural pollinators can help maintain plant diversity in the natural environment.