Pollination Efficacies of Apis Mellifera L. and Tetragonula Carbonaria (Smith) on Peach

Abstract

Pollination by Apis mellifera L. and Tetragonula carbonaria(Smith) resulted in enhancing the quality and quantity of peach (Prunus persica L.) significantly. Of a sample of 100 A. mellifera foragers, 65 collected nectar, 23 pollen and 12 both nectar and pollen in peach flowers. Corresponding numbers for wild bees including T. carbonaria were 79, 12 and 9. Insect visitors included honey bees, T. carbonaria, Solenopsis sp., Lasius sp., other wild bees, and butterflies. Abundance of A. mellifera, T. carbonaria, butterflies and Solenopsis sp. was 1.3, 1.1, 0.6, and 0.5, respectively; and time spent/ flower by these was 4.5, 3.7, 1.9, and 1.7 sec, respectively. About maximum numbers of flowers visited/ min by these viz., A. mellifera, T. carbonaria, butterflies and Solenopsis sp. were 11, 7, 9 and 5, respectively. Fruit set on flowers pollinated ones by A. mellifera was found to increase up to 75.34%, and by T. carbonaria to 73.32%, while open naturally pollinated ones gave 61.17% and on self-pollinated flowers, it was only 49.73%.