Identify The Source of Pollen Feed in Honey and Bee Bread of Tetragonula biroi

Abstract

This study aims to determine the types of feed pollen consumed by the bee species Tetragonula biroi. The research has the objective of providing information to the public regarding the sources of feed for T. biroi honey bees, which are located in Kuajang Village, Binuang District, Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi. The research was conducted between February and April 2020. A comparative method was employed to examine the shapes of plant pollen found around the meliponiary in comparison to the shapes of pollen discovered in honey and bee bread. Samples were prepared using the acetolysis method and stained using safranin. The research findings indicate the presence of 23 identified flowering plant species in the vicinity of the meliponiary, along with their identification in bee bread. However, only 12 species were identified in honey. Coconut pollen exhibited the highest percentage, accounting for 44.8% of honey and 38.13% of bee bread, categorizing it as a secondary pollen type.