STUDIES ON SOME BEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS OF LITTLE BEE, Apisflorea Fab. (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)
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Date
39344
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK ,BANGALORE
Abstract
The present investigations were carried out to study the pasturage sources,
melissopalynology, palynology, foraging distance, swarming and its prevention,
absconding and post absconding behaviour in A. florea. Foraging activity of A. florea in
comparison with A. cerana during different weather conditions and Pollinator fauna and
abundance oi A. florea in some selected plant species were also studied.
Total of 147 plant species belonging to 48 families were found to be foraged by A.
florea. Melissopalynological studies revealed that Cuphea micrantha, Cocos nucifera,
Psidium guajava. Eucalyptus sp., Foeniculum vulgare, Mangifera indica, Pongamia
pinnata, Peltophorum ferrugineum, Tamarindus indica, Callistephus chinensis and Brazil
plant were dominant in the A. florea honey samples analysed from GKVK, Bangalore.
Palynological investigations made on pollen loads of A. florea foragers revealed that
Guizotia abyssinica, Helianthus amus, Anacardium occidentale, Mangifera indica,
Punica granatum, Foeniculum vulgare, Burscera delpechiana, Mentha spicata, Nepeta
cataria, Ocimum kilimandscharium, Raphanus sativus, Cuphea micrantha, Antigonon
leptopus, Callistemon lanceolus, Eucalyptus sp., Simaruba glauca, Pongamia pinnata
and Tamarindus indica are the dominant pollen types in GKVK campus.
Swarm preparation was observed from November to March. Absconding was
observed during February to March. Punching of queen and drone cells delayed the
swarming process by 11-98 days. After the desertion, workers from the same colony
were found lo lelurii oud collect tlic wax from the honey portion und upper penpliuiy of
the comb.
A. cerana and A. florea were more active during bright sunny days than cloudy
days. However A. cerana recorded higher activity than A. florea during sunny as well as
cloudy days.
Among the insects species visited flowers of radish, niger, rose apple and
simaruba, A. florea was dominant.