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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 80  Biodiversity of Honey Bees in Thailand ABlack Dwarf Honeybee ( Apis andreniformis ) is the smallest wild bee which has the smallest comb in the world. This dwarf honeybee was fi rst discovered in 1858 by Smith from collected samples from Sarawak, Borneo and the small southern tipped peninsular of Malaysia and was later found in Thailand in 1989. The black dwarf honeybee has similar morphological and biological characteristics as the red dwarf honeybee ( Apis fl orea ). The only distinctive difference is the reproductive organ of a drone. The discovery (by the Research Unit of Bee Biology, Chulalongkorn University) in this particular area helps clarify the distribution region of black dwarf honeybees and red dwarf honeybees in Thailand and Malaysia (Wongsiri et al ,2000). A Black dwarf honeybee’s body size is slightly bigger than a house fl y. Its abdomen contains clear black and white stripes. Northern villagers call them “Pung Maan”. Black dwarf honeybees can normally be found in a forest near mountains or in gardens. They like to build their comb in a tree or a bush that is not too tall. There is only one level in the comb and the comb size is a little bigger than an adult’s palm. Generally, a black dwarf honeybee’s hive is covered with bushes and branches as a protection from intruders (approximately 20 cm.). During February and April, these honeybees generate the highest amount of honey. Therefore, this period of the year is considered to be a honeybee hunting season by the bee hunters and villagers (Wongsiri and Deowanich,2012). A black dwarf honeybee is a rare species and the most dif fi cult to fi nd in Thailand. Moreover, this type of bee is neither found in Bangkok nor the metropolitan cities of Thailand. As a result, it is not possible to be commercial bees or to be kept for beekeeping purpose. A Red Dwarf Honeybee ( Apis fl orea ) is bigger and has a bigger comb than a black dwarf honeybee but is smaller than an Eastern hive bee whose comb contains many layers. The red dwarf honeybee builds a single comb that is bigger than a black dwarf honeybee. Commonly, the comb is on the branch of a bush tree in a shady area to protect the comb from being directly exposed to the sunlight or the cold. A comb of a red dwarf honeybee, like a black dwarf honeybee’s comb, is usually in a bush of thorns to be covered and protected from enemies and invaders. However, it is Organic Honey of Thailand