"There are a lot of benefits that bees contribute for food and nutrition, animal feed, industrial materials, and pollination. This proves the role of bees as food and nutrition providers and pollinating bees as part of the ecosystem network, which is crucial in agricultural and in forestry ecosystems," Prof. Rosichon Ubaidillah MPhil Ph.D. from BRIN's Center for Biosystematics and Evolution Research Center stated here on Friday.
During a virtual lecture, themed "Bees (Hymenoptera; Apoidea-Anthophila): Heroes For Humans and the Health of Nature," at the Hasanuddin University in Makassar, Ubaidillah explained that honey can be processed into other products and efficacious medicines.
The professor highlighted that the interaction between plants and pollinating insects and climate change is a very complex network and is still not fully understood.
Hence, Ubaidillah remarked that during development, it is necessary to conduct related studies to understand the interaction, thereby increasing the number of potential benefits for human life and nature.
He said bees of the pterygota subclass in the Insecta class, which can produce honey, royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax, bore similarity to wasps and ants and are known for their role as pollinators.
Bees also have a long proboscis for sucking flower nectar, with male bees having an antennae strength of 13 segments and female bees with 12 segments, and hind legs that have pollen baskets.
During a visit to a bee farm in Pattaya, Thailand, ANTARA reported that propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen are considered healthy foods to increase stamina and are consumed as alternative medicines.
The bee farm consultant remarked that honey is also believed to be an inflammation remedy and to prevent diseases.
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Translator: Abdul K, Kenzu T
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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