Kongunadu Research Journal
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016): Vol 3, Iss 2, Year 2016
Articles

FORAGING DYNAMICS AND POLLINATION EFFICIENCY OF APIS CERANA INDICA (HYMENOPTERA : APIDAE) ON EGGPLANT, SOLANUM MELONGENA L.

pdf
  • Eswaran R,
  • Anand K,
  • Baskaran S,
  • Pramod P
Eswaran R
Department of Zoology, The Madura College, Madurai– 625011, Tamil Nadu.
Anand K
Department of Zoology, The Madura College, Madurai– 625011, Tamil Nadu.
Baskaran S
Department of Zoology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi– 626124, Tamil Nadu.
Pramod P
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Anaikatty, Coimbatore – 641 108, Tamil Nadu
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26524/krj157
Published December 30, 2016
Keywords
  • Insects, Bees, Apis cerana indica, pollination, pollinators.
How to Cite
R, E., K, A., S, B., & P, P. (2016). FORAGING DYNAMICS AND POLLINATION EFFICIENCY OF APIS CERANA INDICA (HYMENOPTERA : APIDAE) ON EGGPLANT, SOLANUM MELONGENA L. Kongunadu Research Journal, 3(2), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.26524/krj157

Abstract

Bees are responsible for more than 50% of all successful pollination. The pollination efficiency of Apis cerana indica was studied in Eggplant, Solanum melongena. The Apis cerana indica was found to spend 20 sec./flower/visit (20 ± 1.58). The amount of pollen depleted by Apis cerana indica was 563 pollen
grains/insect visit (562.8 ± 34.89) and pollen deposition was 197 pollen grains/insect visit (196.8 ± 19.31).Pollen depletion and deposition by Apis cerana indica were more during 0800-1000 hrs. The peak activity of bees was recorded at 0900-1100 hrs when the temperature ranged from 28-32oC and humidity ranged from
58-73%. The diurnal activity Apis cerana indica showed a significant positive correlation with temperature and negative correlation with humidity. These results showed Apis cerana indica is one of the efficient pollinators for Solanum melongena. The importance of Apis cerana indica colony for the improvement of
agriculture is also be discussed.

pdf

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.