Melittopalynological investigation of honey bees from Apis dorsata Fabr and Apis cerana indica Fabr hives in Shahjahanpur district U.P .(India).
Lokesh Chandra and S.C Sharma
Department of Botany G.F. College Shahjahanpur (U.P.) 242001, (India)
ABSTRACT
Studies on pollen analysis of Apis dorata Fabr. and Apis cerana indica Fabr. honey were under taken during winter and summer season in Shahjahanpur district.Total of seven honey samples were collected form seven localities from December 2009 to June 2010. A total of 28 plant species served as pollen and nectar sources in which there aer 11 trees, 5 shrubs, 10 herbs and 2 climbers. The main pollen and nectar sources consisted of Brassica compestris Linn var. sarson Prain, Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp, Cassia occidantalis Linn., Bauhinia vareigata Linn. and Psidium guajava Linn. in winter and Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Sorghum vulgare Linn., Cassia tora Linn. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. in summer season . The member of caesalpiniaceae contribute the major source of pollen and nectar in the bee hives of area. The present investigation reveals that this region has the maximum potentiality for bee keeping therefore, the knowledge of the floral wealth of this region is important for its maximum exploitation.