Diversity of Bees’ Flora and Floral Calendar of Native Honeybees in Nagaland, India Singh A. K.1, Jaiswal Deepak Kumar2,*, Singh H. K.3, Thakur R.K.4 1AICRP (Honey Bees & Pollinators) SASRD, Nagaland University 2Department of Entomology and Agril. Zoology, IAS, BHU 3Department of Entomology, SASRD, Nagaland University 4AICRP (Honey Bees & Pollinators), Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi *Email: deeraj3024@gmail.com
Online published on 15 December, 2016. Abstract The foraging plants as source of nectar and pollen used by honey bees were surveyed continuously for three years (2012 to 2015). To identify the Apis cerana and stingless bees (Tetragonula irridipenis, Tetragonula laviceps and Lophotrigona canifrons) foraging plants, develop floral calendar, determine the honey flow and floral dearth period in Nagaland. The 69 foraging plants of A. cerana and 64 foraging plants of stingless bees were recorded in foot hill. The maximum bees’ flora blooms during January to May and December whereas minimum bee's flora blooms during Jun to September. Therefore, honey flow period identified from January to May and Jun to September was identified as floral dearth period in foot hills of Nagaland. The twenty two bees’ foraging plants identified to grow for overcome from floral dearth and enhance the beehives’ productivity. Therefore month of February and March was identified as most suitable time for honey harvesting. Top Keywords Foraging plants, Honey flow period, Floral dearth, Apis cerana, Stingless bees. Top |