Worlds Largest Honeybee

 Worlds Largest Honeybee

The worlds largest honeybee,  Apis dorsata laboriosa (the Himalayan honeybee), measures 1.2 inches long and is found in elevations between 8,200 and 9,800 feet. The Himalayan honeybee, builds large nests under southwest facing overhangs of massive vertical cliffs. One nest can contain up to 130 pounds of honey.  Do not miss this link to view remarkable photos of the World’s Largest Honeybee taken by Andrew Newey who magnificently captures the ancient tradition of honey hunting in Nepal, a region in the Himalayas between India and China. Red honey is collected at the highest altitude from white rhododendron nectar where bees forage as high as 13,500 feet. The medicinal value is attributed to a poison, grayanotoxin, that is found in the rhododendron nectar. Red honey is said to have an intoxicating effect with various relaxing qualities. The worlds largest honeybee, Apis dorsata laboriosa, is the only honeybee to produce this prized honey. Himalayan Red Honey is priced at five times the cost of  honey produced by apis mellifera.