Foraging Activity of Tetragonula laeviceps Workers for Natural Resources and Nest Materials at a Polyculture Cropland in Batusangkar, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra

Abstract

Tetragonula laeviceps is the most widely distributed stingless bee species in tropics. The observation on foraging activity of stingless bee workers of Tetragonula laeviceps had been done from September to December 2020 at a polyculture cropland in Batusangkar, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The study aimed to determine the pattern of foraging activity of this species at a cropland with vegetation mixture and to identify the relationships between environmental factors i.e., temperature, humidity, and light intensity, to the foraging activity. The stingless bee workers were observed hourly for fifteen minutes from 6 am to 6 pm at their nest entrance, focusing on what they carry when leaving and entering colony. The observation was conducted on seven consecutive days within a week. The natural resources that stingless bee workers brought into their nest were identified and noted along with the number of workers carried certain natural resource. The analysis on observation data showed that the going-out of stingless bee workers for resources peaked at 9 am. The resource carried the most by stingless bee workers into their nest were pollen. Statistical analysis revealed that 78% of foraging activities for resources and nest material in Tetragonula laeviceps were influenced by environmental factors.