Significance of Trianthema portulacastrum L. in sustenance of Apis florea colonies during dearth period
Paper Details
Significance of Trianthema portulacastrum L. in sustenance of Apis florea colonies during dearth period
Abstract
The paper reports flowering phenology, floral visitors of Trianthema portulacastrum and melissopalynological analyses of 8 honey samples and 374 pollen loads of Apis florea, collected during May to August from Bankura district, West Bengal. T. portulacastrum flowers during April to October. Flowers open at 6.30-7.00 am in the morning. Anther dehiscence takes place after 30 minutes from flower opening. Closing of the flower takes place at about 11.30 am – 12.15 pm. During the opening phase of the flower, a number of visitors viz. Apis cerana, A. florea, Augochloropsis metallica, Halictus sp., Pseudoborbo bevani and Trigona iridipennis visit the flower for nectar or pollen. Melissopalynological analyses revealed that all the honey samples were multifloral in origin and T. portulacastrum present in all the honey samples. Regarding the pollen foraging scenario of the bee species, T. portulacastrum also played an important role during those months. The overall result reflects the importance of T. portulacastrum as a major source of both nectar and pollen grains for A. florea colonies during dearth period.
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