MELISSOPALYNOLOGY AND FORAGING ACTIVITY OF STINGLESS BEES, LEPIDOTRIGONA TERMINATA (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) FROM AN APIARY IN BESUT, TERENGGANU

Abstract

Melissopalynology or study of pollen is crucial in understanding the crops and plants that are foraged by bees as their food source because bees have species-specifc preferences of pollens. Pollen analysis is also important to the sustainable development of apiculture industry especially for the premium marketable honey and honey products. The aims of this study were to identify the pollens collected by stingless bees, Lepidotrigona terminata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in an apiary of Besut, Terengganu from November 2012 until February 2013 and to investigate the effective time of foraging activity by the stingless bees. A total of 11 types of pollens were collected from the L. terminata foragers, however only 9 types of the pollens were successfully identifed. The identifed pollens were Murraya paniculata, Citrus hystrix, Calophyllum inophyllum, Ixora coccinea, Bougainvillea glabra (Type 1 and 2), Mimosa pudica, Asystasia gangetica and Suregada multiflora. Ixora coccinea was the most dominant pollen collected by L. terminata. Morning (0800- 1100) and late afternoon (1400-1800) were found to be the most effective times for foraging activity of L. terminata. Our fndings provide information on the favored bee plant species which is clearly an important pre-requisite for launching apiary industry in any locality. It is hoped that this study will enhance the knowledge of beekeepers on crop preferences for stingless bee cultures.