Abstract

• Beekeeping method and life cycle of European honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 were conducted in the campus of Pakokku University and Pauk Kone Village, Magway Region during September, 2017 to May, 2018. Migratory beekeeping method was more suitable in the study area instead of stationary methods due to unavailable food sources in main station throughout the year. It was observed that three different castes of honeybee were included in a colony (queen, worker and drone). Honeybees have five stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, prepupa, pupa and adult. The developmental period of the drone from egg to adult stage was the longest (24 days) and followed by worker (21 days) and queen (16 days). Among the casts, queen is the largest and heaviest than drone and worker. Understanding of life stages of Apis mellifera may help the proper management of honeybee colonies. The sizes of honeybee were assumed to be depended on the sufficient of food sources and environmental factors. The data of the present study would provide the information to further researches concerned with beekeeping and ontogenetic development of the honeybee and other related researches. Beekeeping could create the good opportunities of job for livelihood of rural people.