Unraveling the floral preference: Bee pollen identification and characterization of Tetragonula laeviceps

Abstract

The stingless bee (Tetragonula laeviceps) is capable of yielding products such as honey, propolis, and bee pollen, which hold promise as potential sources of nutrition or alternatives in the field of medicine. The physical and chemical attributes of these products are influenced by intrinsic factors, including dietary sources and bee species, as well as extraneous variables such as management techniques, seasonal variations, and environmental parameters. The Campus of the Biology Faculty UGM encompasses a rich repository of flowering plant species that present a viable resource for the sustenance of stingless bees. Consequently, this research endeavor seeks to delineate and characterize the plant species that serve as the sustenance of stingless bees by elucidating the pollen types discovered within their nest. Pollen specimens were directly procured from the nests and subjected to be analyzed with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At least four distinct varieties of pollen have been identified, originating from divergent plant species, namely those belonging to the Pinaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Brassicaceae families. The dietary preferences of stingless bees, as discerned through the identification of pollen types, exhibit congruence with the plant species in the vicinity of their nesting sites.