Bee Plant Research Articles

Melissopalynological study of Melipona (Eomelipona) torrida Friese, 1916: a native stingless bee from southern Brazil

Few data are on bee–plant interactions for the Melipona torrida bee in southern Brazil. This is a native bee vulnerable to extinction that pollinates native plants and produces honey that is especially appreciated by local populations. Aiming to evaluate the floral sources visited by Melipona torrida bee in southern Brazil a palynology investigation on honeys of this bee were carried out. Honeys were extracted each month from March 2020 to November 2021 of hives from two locations of Rio Grande do Sul (Cachoeirinha and Canoas). The 34 samples were analysed with a light microscope. In the honey samples of the Melipona torrida bee were identified 39 pollen types, principally tree plants. Melipona torrida bee visited frequently the plants of Myrcia type, Eucalyptus sp., Schinus terebenthifolia, Mimosa bimucronata, Parapiptadenia rigida, Morus nigra and Solanum sisymbrifolium. The pollen diagram show differences in pollen percentages throughout the year and CONISS grouped the samples in five groups (MT-1–MT-5). Richness of pollen types of samples was low in the months of winter and March and high in the honeys of months of Spring and Summer. The honeys were monofloral and heterofloral, and native plants were more visited than exotic species. The 33 pollen types from honey of Melipona torrida bee from southern Brazil can help in the knowledge of the bee–plant interaction of this native bee and propose appropriate plant management around the hives.

Nectar and pollen source of natural honey produced by Apis cerana skorikovi Engel (= himalaya): Palynological analysis from tropical to sub-tropical forests of eastern Himalaya

This study deals with the palynological analysis of natural “Himalayan cerana” honey collected from the tropical to sub-tropical forests of the eastern Himalaya (West Sikkim, Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh and sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal). A total of 12 honey samples were analysed. Among the six samples from Sikkim, one is found unifloral and remaining five samples are found to be multifloral. Similarly, the Kolakham (West Bengal) sample is found multifloral, whereas both the honey samples of Alipurduar (West Bengal) are found to be unifloral. All the three Arunachal Pradesh samples are found multifloral. Absolute pollen count (APC) reveals that the unifloral winter honeys are poor in APC compared to the multifloral ones. Significant occurrence of anemophilous pollen grains in honey samples points towards there entrapment either during long distance flight of the bees or on the sticky hive surfaces. The nectar calendars show that winter season is the honey dearth period in the study areas of the eastern Himalaya. Finally, the diversity and richness of the pollen grains in the honey samples also reflect the bee plant diversity of the surroundings. The study may further be useful to assess the potential for establishing a moderate to large-scale bee-keeping industry which may provide an alternate source of livelihood to improve the socio-economic set up of the local economically backward ethnic communities.

Bee–plant interactions identified by pollen analysis of honey from the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Schwarz, 1938) in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT Pollen analysis of honey reveals information about bee–plant interactions and networks that, in some cases, are lost through mere observation of bees on flowers. This information on bee–plant interactions is valuable for the protection of bees and vegetal speciesand pollination of crop plants. To provideinsights into bee–plant interactions, palynological evidence was developedfromthe collection of honey. The objective of this study is to determine the plants that the bees (Tetragonisca fiebrigi) visit for honey production in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). For this, 24 honey samples were collectedfrom five regions of northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. A total of 64 pollen types were found in the honey samples fromT.fiebrigi in southern Brazil, mainly from trees. The most common pollen types in the samples were from Schinus terebinthifolia, Schizolobium parahyba, Handroanthus sp., Morus nigra, and Rosa cf. grandiflora. The pollen grains show a high diversity of plants, including those with important ecological functions.

Projecting the impact of climate change on honey bee plant habitat distribution in Northern Ethiopia

Climate change significantly affects the diversity, growth, and survival of indigenous plant species thereby influencing the nutrition, health and productivity of honey bees (Apis mellifera). Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) is one of the major honey bee plant species in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. It is rich in pollen and nectar that typically provides white honey, which fetches a premium price in both local and inter-national markets. Despite its socio-economic and apicultural significance, the distribution of H. forskaolii has been declining, raising concerns regarding its conservation efforts. However, there is limited knowledge on how environmental and climatic factors affect its current distribution and response to future climate change. The study investigates the current and projected (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s) habitat distributions of H. forskaolii under three future climate change scenarios (ssp126, ssp245, and ssp585) using the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt). The results show that land use (50.1%), agro-ecology (28%), precipitation during the Driest Quarter (11.2%) and soil texture (6.1%) predominantly influence the distribution of H. forskaolii, collectively explaining 95.4% of the model's predictive power. Habitats rich in evergreen trees and mosaic herbaceous with good vegetation cover are identified as the most suitable for H. forskaolii. The spatial distribution of H. forskaolii is concentrated in the highlands and mid-highlands of the eastern and southern parts of Tigray, characterized by a colder temperature. Across the three climate change scenarios, the size of suitable habitat for H. forskaolii is projected to decrease over the four time periods studied. Predictions under the ssp585 scenario reveal alarming results, indicating a substantial decrease in the suitable habitat for H. forskaolii from 4.26% in the 2030s to 19.09% in the 2090s. Therefore, given the challenges posed by climate change, research efforts should focus on identifying and evaluating new technologies that can help the H. forskaolii species in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Honeybee Floral Diversity of Gemachis Forest, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Gemachis forest from October 2019 to November 2020, which is an important area of biodiversity conservation, tourism attraction and carbon sequestration for modulating climate change. The forest is also very important for honey production and other non-timber forest products. The study was designed with the objective of assessing honey bee floral diversity of the forest. For the inventory of bee forages a transect line were made in three selected altitudinal strata. Honey samples also were obtained from the three agro ecologies of the forest: Arer (high altitude), Chafe kebene (medium altitude) and Sororo (low altitude). The pollen spectrum of the honey was analyzed to determine the botanical and geographical origin of the honey. According to inventory of the honeybee flora, forty-eight (48) bee plant species were identified; belonging to 33 families, of which <i>Fabaceae</i>, <i>Roseaceae</i> and <i>Verbenaceae </i>were the most frequent families in the study area. Among these bee forages 54.1% were shrub 16.6% were trees and 29.1% were herbs. From identified bee forages, <i>Solanium spp</i>, <i>Andropogon abyssinica</i>, <i>Guizotia spp</i> and <i>Hypoestes forskaolii</i> were the most abundant bee flora species in the study area. The pollen analysis of honey revealed that, two types of monofloral honey types were identified in the area which includes <i>Guizotia spp</i> and <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> accounting for 74.9% and 54.9% pollen frequency respectively. Thus, beekeepers should conserve the forest for sustainable honey production since the forest is endowed with good honeybee plant diversity.

Improved beekeeping practices, honey bee flora potential and flowering calendar in South Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, improved hive technology dissemination was started before five-decades. However, the adoption of improved beekeeping technology is still very low. This study was conducted with the main objectives to evaluating improved beekeeping adoption level and honey yields of different hives and identification of major honey bee plants and flora calendar in the Gedeo zone, South Ethiopia. Three districts were selected purposively based on beekeeping potential and the number of improved hives own by beekeepers. The data was collected from 180 respondents using cross-sectional survey. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and percentage and ANOVA. The result shown that the compositions of disseminated hives in the entire sampled respondents were 286, 476, 121 and 1494 Zander hive, Kenyan top bar hive (KTBH), Mud/Ethio-Ribrab hive (ERH) and Traditional hives respectively. Traditional beekeeping was the dominant system with 63% and intermediate followed by 25%, while modern beekeeping was only 12%. Based on overall mean honey yield, there was no significant difference (P = 0.244) between Zander and KTBH. However, the average honey yield of these improved hives were significantly (P<0.05) higher than Mud/ERH and Traditional hives. Gedeo zone had rich floral resource and diverse floral calendar. Hygenia abyssinica, Bidens ghedoensis, Erythrinia abyssinica, Eucalyptus species, Cordia africana, Coffee arabica, Vernonia species, Susbania susban and Persea americana were major honey bee flora in Gedeo zone. February-March was major honey harvesting season while May-July and October-December respectively were minor honey harvesting periods. Nevertheless, the majority of beekeepers have been practicing honey harvesting once a year from all hives due to lack of awareness and practical skills. Therefore, we recommend that the local government should focus on educating beekeepers to enable them utilizing exhaustively the opportunities of multi-floral season and improved hive technology to maximize honey yield in the area.

Diversity of Bee Floral Resources and Honey Production Calendar in Ethiopia’s Southwest Shoa Zone

Bee flora resources are essential for the development of beekeeping. This study aimed to identify the diversity of key bee forage plants, establish honey harvesting calendars, and assess different types of monofloral honey in the area. Data collection methods included a bee plant inventory, pollen collection, and honey pollen analysis. A total of 122 plant species were identified as bee plants, with 44.26% being shrubs and 27.87% being trees. These bee plants were distributed across three districts, accounting for 37.40% of the plant species, indicating a broader ecological distribution than local species. Wonchi district exhibited the highest diversity of bee plants (H′ = 4.7), followed by Waliso (H′ = 4.55). Three honey harvesting periods were identified: November, January, and June. Additionally, three distinct types of monofloral honey were produced: Erica arborea honey in January, Eucalyptus camaldulensis honey in June, and Guizotia scabra honey in November. A shortage of bee forages was noted in February, March, July, and August across all districts. The southwest Shoa zone (comprising Wonchi, Waliso, and Amaya districts) shows potential for sustainable and commercial beekeeping based on the available bee flora resources. To ensure sustainability, it is crucial to maintain the existing bee flora and increase the propagation of multipurpose plant species. Additionally, on‐farm demonstrations highlighting the importance of floral and honey calendars for effective colony management are recommended.

Identification and Establishing Floral Calendar in Jimma Zone of Oromia Ethiopia

Bee flora resources are crucial for the development of beekeeping. The study aimed to find and construct a flowering calendar for bee plants in order to produce many batches of honey. Data were collected through bee plant inventory, pollen collection and honey pollen analysis. Based on bee plant inventories, pollen load collection, and honey pollen analysis, 103 plant species were identified as nectar and pollen sources for honeybees. Ageratum conizoides, Guizotia scabra, Cordia africana, Datura arborea, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex nervosus, and Justicia schimperiana were the most common honey-producing plants in the area. The fresh weight of pollen gathered at various months of the year revealed that a substantial amount of pollen was collected in September, October, and November, but the incoming pollen weight decreased in March and July. The area's peak honey flow period began in November and lasted until early December or late February. The modest honey flow also occurred in May and June. Pollen examination of honey samples indicated three monofloral honey types: Guizotia spp., Vernonia, and Croton monofloral honey types, with pollen frequencies ranging between 45% and 100%. The study indicated that the floral calendar of bee forages is completely reliant on the seasonal availability of food sources, and beekeepers should be aware of how to manage honeybee colonies in accordance with the flowering calendar in their area in order to enhance the frequency of honey production.

Comparative analysis of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant characteristics of stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii) honey from modern and wild beehives in Ethiopia.

There is a dearth of information on the comparative studies of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties as well as quality standards of stingless bee honey (SBH) in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to assess and compare the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH, specifically sourced from Meliponula beccarii, and produced under both wild and modern apiary conditions at two distinct geographical locations. A total of forty-six honey samples were meticulously collected from domesticated stingless bee colonies and naturally occurring wild nests at Wolmera and Cheliya districts. Pollen analysis unveiled eleven distinct bee plant species distributed across six families, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent, primarily represented by Guizotia scabra and Vernonia amygdalina. Notably, the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH collected from modern pot hives exhibited significant variances (p < .05) when compared to SBH from wild nests. Principal component analysis (PCA) delineated the differentiation of SBH sources based on both geographical location and the type of beehive. One-way ANOVA corroborated these distinctions, underscoring significantly higher levels (p < .05) of ash, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucrose, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities of SBH from modern pot hives in Wolmera. Whereas, Cheliya modern pot hives recorded higher values in pH, hydroxymethylfurfural and maltose contents compared to the wild nest SBH. Further analysis through Pearson correlation highlighted a strong positive association between total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with the antioxidant capacity of SBH. These findings underscore the significance of integrating modern pot hives to enhance the quality of SBH within Ethiopia's beekeeping sector.

Experience in optimizing the pollination of fruit crops

Studying the dependence of the yield and quality of fruit crops on pollination by bees is necessary, among other things, from the point of view of the protection of bees and biodiversity. Perennial fruit plantations in the Rostov region occupy 30 thousand hectares. Fruit trees such as apricot, quince, plum, cherry, sweet cherry, pear, and apple are essential honey plants for bees. The study aimed to develop methods and techniques for optimising the pollination of fruit crops based on established flowering periods and varietal characteristics of plants and determining the bioresource potential of gardens in the region. Using the method of accumulating sums of effective temperatures, it was established that the flowering of gardens begins with the mass flowering of apricot in the second ten days of April and ends with the flowering of quince at the end of May. The average duration of flowering of plants was 7–14 days. Observations of yield dynamics showed an increase in the number of fruits when optimising pollination by 20–27 times in cherries and sweet cherries. Taking into account the changes in the natural and climatic conditions of the Rostov region when moving through the territory, the physiological characteristics of fruit trees, as well as the mutual pollination of different varieties, the timing of migrations of bee colonies for cross-pollination and planting patterns when planting an orchard are proposed. Monitoring of the bioresource potential of gardens showed that the total area of parks in the region is 27 thousand hectares, with a bioresource potential for honey collection of 434.1 tons. The most significant bioresource potential for honey collection is characterised by the area of gardens in the territory of the 4th honey collection district (154.1 tons). In the 1st region, this figure is 95.5 tons, slightly less in the 3rd region - 73.4 tons. Using all listed methods for regulating work with an apiary and agricultural technology for growing gardens will create conditions for increasing their productivity by 10.8 times, or by 73.3%.

Prospects of using and breeding perennial geraniums in Russia

In recent years, interest has been growing in winter-hardy geraniums as ornamental, essential oil bearing, medicinal and bee plants, thereby intensifying their breeding. Due to their introduction into commercial fl oriculture, winter-hardy varieties of Geranium L. enter the markets of countries in diff erent climatic zones, and every year they are more and more widely used in fl oral design of gardens, parks and street areas, which expands their raw material base. Th e paper considers the issues and prospects of using and breeding perennial winter-hardy geraniums in Russia on the basis of global achievements. Th e diversity of species and varieties of this genus in terms of leaf and fl ower coloring, habitus, fl owering time, adaptation to diff erent soil and climatic conditions expands the ways of their use as ornamental and environmentally-friendly plants. Th e paper demonstrates the prospects of using many geranium species and varieties in medicine and functional nutrition due to the high content of polyphenols in extracts of above-ground and underground parts, as well as the prominent antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-cancer eff ect. Creation of representative fi eld collections of geraniums by ecological and geographical origin and economic and biological characteristics, as well as development of nursery breeding will contribute to the selection of geraniums in Russia for various uses. Th e possibilities of creating interspecifi c hybrids by spontaneous and artifi cial crosses on the basis of fi eld collections of winter-hardy geraniums have not been exhausted yet due to suffi ciently high interspecifi c compatibility of a number of species and varieties, especially among species and varieties of Geranium subgenus. Th is is confi rmed by the data on origin of the created varieties and some studies of genomes of geranium species and varieties. Further focus areas of breeding will be formed not only taking into account the demands of gardeners, but also specialists in the fi eld of biochemistry, medicine and other branches of national economy, where geraniums are and will be used.

Surveying, identification and characterization for the potential honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) pollen sources in the arid region of Riyadh-Saudi Arabia

This study was conducted targeting identification and documentation of major honeybee plants as pollen sources and their phenology in the central arid region of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh). Pollen loads were collected using pollen traps and were classified according to their color then traced back to plant species level. Throughout the year, sixteen plant species belonging to 10 plant families has been recorded and investigated by Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Asian mustard (Brassica tournefortii Gouan.) (15.91%), willow wattle (Acacia salicina Lindl.) (15.17%), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) (Sw.) DC. (21.81%) and cat's head (Tribulus terresetris L. var. terrestris) (15.52%) were the dominant sources of pollen. The period from May to July was found to be a significant blooming period and the scarcity period was from December to March in the study area. Color, size and shape of the potential pollen sources were variable between different species. Beekeepers could trap pollen loads that were collected from these sources during February, April and July, respectively. In conclusion, wise use and rehabilitation of these potentially identified bee plant species shall be considered in attempting beekeeping development.

Identification of types, flowering of bee plants and honey production of Apis cerana in Aornakan I and Kutatinggi villages, Pakpak Bharat regency, North Sumatra

One of the influential factors in the success of beekeeping is the availability of bee feed. Beekeepers need to know the types of food sources for bees and have a map of the sources of nectar and pollen in their area. This will help in planning the management of their colony. This research was conducted to identify the types and flowering of bee feed plants (Apis cerana) and to determine honey production. In this study used exploratory survey methods and interviews. Based on the study's results, there were 17 identified types of bee feed sources from forestry plants, 13 identified plant species from crops and 6 identified plant species that produce flowers. The flowering schedule for honey bee feed plants in Pakpak Bharat Regency for Kaliandra plants blooms in February - July, for Durian plants blooms in March, April - October, and November for Coffee plants flowers in April and August. Honey production in Pakpak Bharat District has a different frequency of harvest and production each month. For April, 11 members produced 42 bottles of honey. For May, 10 members produced 55 bottles, where the size per bottle was 600 ml.

Current Knowledge of the Melliferous Florae in Mexico Using Methodologies to Understand Bee–Plant–Human Interactions

Knowledge of melliferous flora has applications in areas of commercial and scientific interest because pollinators, such as different bee taxa, provide ecosystem services that include the pollination of both agroecosystems and wild ecosystems. In this manuscript, we reviewed research carried out in Mexico on the identification of melliferous flora, emphasizing the methods used and highlighting their implications for bee–plant–human interactions as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods used in the determination of this type of vegetation. Methods such as observations of the foraging process, palynological analysis, and taxonomic determination via genetic sequencing were analyzed. We observed advantages in each method, but better integration between methods would facilitate concrete advances in understanding this type of flora. Ultimately, the determination of melliferous flora is a practical tool that provides useful knowledge in diverse economic and scientific sectors.

Floral Calendar of Honeybee Plants in Kellem and West Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Beekeeping has significantly contributed to environmental conservation and the preservation of natural resources. Although the quality and quantity of flora available play a major role in the success of the sector, the botanical makeup of natural vegetation varies greatly. This study was conducted targeting the identification and documentation of major honeybee floras and their flowering calendar. Midland and lowland agroecologies were purposively selected. Continuous field plant registration was performed. Melissopalynological analysis from bee pollen and honey were used to identify floral origin. Field observations identified 59 and 63 plants in the midland and lowlands, respectively. Season 1 had the highest pollen yields, ranging from 11051.8 ± 56.4 g (midlands) to 878.3 ± 18.3 g (lowlands), while season 4 ranged from 16.8 ± 6.3 g (midlands) to 15.6 ± 7.4 g (lowlands) and had the lowest pollen yield. In both regions, February, March, July, and August are the months when pollen is not brought into the hive and could be used as starvation periods. A total of 1430.8 ± 75.4 and 1291.8 ± 71.4 g of bee pollen/hive were collected throughout the year in midland and lowland, respectively, and Asteraceae was the richest family accounting around 90% of pollen weight. In both agroecologies, honey is harvested three times a year. In the midland, monofloral honey, namely, Guizotia spp (64.42%) and Croton macrostychus (47.42%), was harvested in November and May, respectively, while honey harvested in February was multifloral type. Similarly, in the lowlands, monofloral honey of Guizotia spp (51.85%), Coffee arabica (55.22%), and Croton macrostychus (50.42%) was harvested in December, March, and June, respectively. Based on the results, Bidens prestinaria, Bidens pilosa, Guizotia spp, C. macrostachyus, Eucalyptus spp, Lepidium sativum, Zea mays, Hypostes trifolia, Vernonia spp, Trifolium spp, Helianthus annuus, C. arabica, Brassica abyssinica, Andropogon abyssinicus, Sorghum bicolor, Cordia africana, Syzygium guineense, and Terminalia spp are major bee plants. It is found that the study area is rich in bee plant diversity and hence has a potential for honey production.

Pollen Visualization of Turkish Flora of Selected Plant Species under Light, Scanning, and Transmission Microscopy

This study aims to examine pollen morphologically via studies of 16 plant taxa from Turkish flora. The pollen structures of the taxa examined, and their microscopic relevance, was discussed and studied with the help of microscopic visualization using scanning and transmission microscopies. Pollen grains were first acetolyzed, and then quantitative and qualitative pollen features were used to evaluate the species. The pollen grains were prolate, spherical, elliptic, tricolporate, 3-colpate, and hexacolpate. Sculpturing patterns of surfaces vary from reticulate, micro-reticulate, and striate regulate. As the findings reveal, palynological data can aid in the taxonomic classification of Turkish floral species. Microscopic implications can be made via micromorphological examination to correctly identify the species. While the pollen morphology of 16 taxa collected from the study area was studied for the first time from this region, the palynological research of some taxa was introduced to the literature for the first time with this study. Pollen morphology and photographic and statistical data of the taxa in our study were determined. This study contributed to bee plant research, melisapalinological studies, and systematic botanical flora studies.

Plant Species as Potential Forage for Honey Bees in the Al-Baha Mountain Region in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The contribution of bee forages in the form of nectar, pollen, and propolis to beekeeping development depends on plant species diversity. The data concerning the increase in honey production in southwestern Saudi Arabia, which was unexpected with the deterioration of the vegetation cover, becomes a concrete background for this study, which planned to list the bee plant species contributing as sources of nectar, pollen, and propolis. The sampling method followed a purposive random sampling approach, and 20 × 20 m plots were considered with a total of 450 sample plots. Bee forage plants were identified based on flower morphology and honey bees' actions during floral visits at active foraging hours. A checklist of bee forages containing 268 plants species belonging to 62 families was documented. The number of pollen source plants (122) was more than nectar (92) and propolis (10) source plants. Regarding seasonal distribution, spring and winter were relatively good seasons for honey bees in terms of pollen, nectar, and propolis availability. Generally, this study is an essential step towards understanding, conserving, and rehabilitating plant species providing nectar, forage, and propolis to honey bees in Al-Baha Region of Saudi Arabia.

Bee–plant interaction and community response along an urbanization gradient

Abstract Elucidating bee response to urbanization is essential to promoting pollinator diversity in cities especially considering such landscapes are projected to expand to support future global populations. To determine how bee community composition and plant–pollinator interactions respond to urbanization, 29 sites representing three urban categories (high, medium and low urbanization) were monitored biweekly from May through early October in Toronto, Canada. Bees were collected passively using pan and blue vane traps as well as actively using aerial nets and vacuums to compare community structure and plant–pollinator networks among urban categories. Functional traits such as dietary breadth, behaviour, nesting substrate and native or non-native status were also examined to determine how landscape influences bee community assemblages. In total, 5477 bees, comprising 26 genera and 164 species, were represented in this study. The urban landscape was largely supportive of species within the family Apidae and Halictidae as well as ground nesting, native and generalist species. Overall, community composition was affected by urban landscape characteristics such as percent tree cover and impervious (i.e. paved and built) surface surrounding sites; however, bee richness and abundance were significantly influenced by plant richness and not by landscape variables. A total of 3267 interactions were observed throughout the study region with characteristics of plant–pollinator networks remaining consistent along the urban gradient with a few floral host plants such as Solidago dominating interactions in certain urban contexts. These results provide important land use and floral host information for targeting pollinator conservation and habitat restoration.

Nutraceutical Properties of Potentially Pollen Sources in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and their Impact on the Activities of Honey Bee Colonies

Pollen plants is the sole source of strength for honey bees’ colonies, estimating pollen nutritional value is a crucial aspect to comprehend its influence on the growth of honey bee colonies in any region. In this study the potentially discovered pollen source in Riyadh region, central Saudi Arabia, Asian mustard (Brassica tournefortii Gouan.), willow wattle (Acacia salicina Lindl.), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.) and cat’s head (Tribulus terresetris L. var. terrestris) were evaluated and their role in improving honey bee colonies were analyzed. Important criteria for determining the nutraceutical properties of pollen included fresh and dry weight, protein content, and the presence of essential and non-essential amino acids were analyzed. The study revealed that the highest content of protein in the dominant pollen types was recorded for B. tournefortii pollen (20.53%), while P. juliflora pollen was the highest in essential amino acids content. In conclusion, in an effort to achieve highquality development, careful plant breeding and rehabilitation of these potentially discovered pollen plant species would be taken into consideration. In conclusion, wise use and rehabilitation of these potentially identified bee plant species shall be considered in attempting beekeeping development.

Potential Floral Resources Available in Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest of Chhattisgarh, India

The present paper listed about 49 bee plant species, which are well distributed and common in Bastar forestarea. The identified bee flora comprises of ornamentals, timber, medicinal, fruits, vegetables and othercommercial important plants like spices, pulses, cereals, oil yielding, fibre, fodder etc. Because of economic importance of the bee plants, they are not only protected but also propagated. Some of the common andimportant bee forage plants are, the species of Syzygium, Cassia, Citrus, Pongamia, Azadirachta, Brassica,Areca, Cocos, Guizotia, Hilianthus, Albezia, Lagerstroemia, Polyanthus, Sapindus, Tecoma etc. The paper reportsthat the bee-flora is diversified in the region and consists of both wild and cultivated, flowering duringdifferent months of the year. The flowering duration for each of the bee plant is provided to know the peakblooming period by the beekeeper. The state has all the four species of honeybees, i.e. Apisdorsata, Apisflorea, Apiscerana indica and Apis mellifera. However, Apis mellifera is very recently introduced in the state. InChhattisgarh, since pre-historical times beekeeping is practiced with Apiscerana indica.During the year1992 the Thai sac brood disease (TSBV) was very severe in the stateand the beekeepers lost most of theircolonies. This prompted the state government to introduceApis mellifera with a view to rehabilitate thepeople who were entirely depending on the beekeeping occupation. In addition to this, Khadi VillageIndustries Commission (KVIC) of the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Government of India, and theDepartment of Industries and Commerce, Government Chhattisgarh have taken up several measures torevive Apiscerana beekeeping in the interest of the poor beekeepers and to strengthenbeekeeping for croppollination of large number of economically important crops through honeybees. The present status ofbeekeeping in the state is discussed.