Conservation and Commercial Insights into Bees, Flora, and Honey Epidemiology in Murree Hills

This multidisciplinary investigation was carried out across the Murree Hills (Pakistan) to concurrently characterize bee and floral biodiversity, quantify honey yield and purity, assess apiary health and pathogen load, model disease transmission dynamics, and formulate actionable strategies for conservation and commercialization. Thirty ecologically distinct sites (1,200–2,400 m) spanning forest, agro-pastoral, and peri-urban habitats were sampled from March to October. The study included inspection of 150 managed hives from 45 apiaries, 90 wild pollinator transect sessions using pan traps and netting, and analysis of 120 honey samples for physicochemical and palynological traits. Apis mellifera was the most abundant species (~45%), followed by A. cerana, bumblebees (Bombus spp.), carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) and diverse solitary taxa totaling 12 identified taxa (Shannon H′ = 1.95; evenness J = 0.67), indicating moderate pollinator diversity. Mean honey production was 9.2 ± 2.4 kg per colony, peaking significantly at mid-elevation zones (p = 0.003). Quality parameters met international trade benchmarks moisture averaged 17.8% and HMF 9 mg kg⁻¹ while palynological profiling revealed a high-altitude multifloral origin enriched with Quercus (38%), Pinus (20%), Prunus spp. (12%) and Ericaceae (10%). Pathogen surveillance detected Nosema spp. in 18% and Varroa-associated viral signatures in 22% of hives, both strongly associated with apiary density (p < 0.01). A compartmental SIR model estimated R₀ = 1.4 under current hive mobility, predicting >60% localized outbreak risk when hive density exceeds 6 km⁻², whereas simulation confirmed that regulated colony movement and systematic disease surveillance could reduce R₀ below 1. Overall findings demonstrate that the Murree Hills hold exceptional potential for high value multifloral honey enterprises, provided disease pressure is managed, and floral resources are safeguarded. The study delivers applied recommendations for apiary sitting thresholds, floral enrichment, pathogen monitoring frameworks, and cooperative-based branding ensuring dual benefits for rural livelihoods and long-term pollinator biodiversity conservation.

Key Words: A. cerana, Biodiversity, Conservation, Epidemiology, Pollinators.