Antimicrobial activity of crude venom extracts from different honeybee species was tested against selected pathogens. Toxicity of bee venom is known to man since ages, which varies from mild inflammations to death. Bee venom is synthesized in the venom glands of worker bees and queen and is stored in the venom sac. In the present study the toxic potentialities of honeybee venom pertaining to different honeybee species Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis florea was carried out in vitro on selected species of bacteria and fungi. The selected bacteria and fungal species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. They were collected from St. John Medical College, Bangalore. The antimicrobial activity of different species of Apis bee venom (ABV) was studied by Disc Diffusion Assay. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using Broth dilution method at lowest dilution (0.5 mg/ml). Bacterial growth was assessed by the measurement of inhibitory zone. The order of susceptibility of the pathogens against the ABV recorded was: A. cerana > Apis dorsata> Apis florea. The results showed that, ABV has significant antimicrobial effects and could be a potential alternative antibiotic.

Two glands associated with the sting apparatus of worker honey bees produce venom. The aim of this study was to analyse the size and morphometrics of the sting apparatus of worker bees of four Apis species. The sting apparatus consists of a venom gland, venom sac or venom reservoir and sting. These structures are located in the posterior region of the abdomen between the rectum and ovaries. The venom gland is a long tubular filamentous region (acid gland) connected to a reservoir at its proximal region in which the venom is stored. The distal end of the reservoir or venom sac is connected to the bulb of the sting, which leads into the venom canal present inside the shaft of the sting.Little variation was observed in the morphology of the sting apparatus of the different Apis species, although significant variations were found in the length and width of the different parts of sting apparatus.Estudio morfométrico comparativo del aparato picador en abejas obreras de cuatro especies diferentes (Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis florea) ResumenDos glándulas asociadas con el aparato picador de las abejas obreras son las que producen el veneno. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de analizar el tamaño y la morfometría del aparato picador de las abejas obreras de cuatro especies de Apis. El aparato picador consiste en una glándula secretora de veneno, un saco o reservorio de veneno y el aguijón. Estas estructuras se encuentran en la región posterior del abdomen, entre el recto y los ovarios. La glándula del veneno es una larga región tubular filamentosa (glándula ácida) conectada en su región proximal a un depósito donde el veneno es almacenado. El extremo distal del saco o depósito de veneno está conectado al bulbo del aguijón, que conduce al canal del veneno presente en el interior del aguijón. Se ha observado escasa variación en la morfología del aparato picador de las diferentes especies de Apis, aunque se encontraron variaciones significativas en la longitud y anchura de las diferentes partes del aparato picador.