Foraging Strategies in Honeybees, Apis dorsata F. and Apis florea F. in Relation to Availability of Energy Rewards

Abstract

Foraging behavior of two honeybee species Apis dorsata F. and Apis florea F in relation to sugar composition and energetic of nectar production was studied in a community of plant species where the two bee species forage regularly throughout the year. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of nectars from 51 cultivated and ornamental plants revealed that their nectars contained three types of sugars viz. glucose, fructose and sucrose. Quantitative studies enable categorization of the nectars into three groups a) glucose and fructose dominated, b) sucrose dominated and, c) nectars having nearly equal proportions of glucose, fructose and sucrose. Of the two honeybee species, Apis dorsata preferred relatively large sized sucrose dominated flowers whereas Apis florea small flowers with glucose + fructose dominated sugars. However, energy cost and reward provided a clear picture which indicates that A. dorsata bigger in size and tongue length forage flowers providing high energy rewards compared to A. florea which forage low energy rewarding flowers. Such preferences seem to be associated with the foraging profitability of the pollinators.