For World Bee Day, let’s meet our hardworking Laywan or Asian Honey Bee.
Also known as Ligwan in Bisaya or Alig in Kankanaey, the Asian honey bee or Apis cerana does what bees do best: they maintain biodiversity of flowering plants and maintain ecosystem functions.
Less bees = less pollination, which can lead to local extinction of plants, a decline in fruit and seed-eating animals, vegetation loss, and eventually, the loss of a healthy ecosystem!
In one study Laywan were observed pollinating coconut, narra, corn, sampaloc, and many other plants (AC Tilde 2003).
Next time you eat a vegetable, sit under a tree, or appreciate a flower, thank Laywan and friends!
Artprint: https://society6.com/product/asian-honey-bee-apis-cerana-or-laywan-in-filipino-and-baybayin_print
