Gavi GowdaSHWETHA, B.V2019-02-202019-02-2039344TH-8924http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810096200The 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.enThesis