Abstract

Melittopalynological investigations of honey bee ( Apis cerana indica Fabr.) pollen loads for autumn season (September-October) from Bhimtal (near Nainital) in the Kumaon Himalaya, U.P., India were made. All the loads were unifloral representing 15 families and 18 taxa of both entomophilous and anemophilous angiosperms. The taxa belonging to the family Compositae were most dominant (34.7%) followed by Gramineae, Labiatae and Leguminosae (10% each). Besides, eleven minor sources of alternate bee flora have been highlighted in order to provide information on bee pasture to maintain continuous pollen/nectar or both pollen and nectar flow to the beehive for successful thriving of apiaries which is a prerequisite for lavish honey production.

中文摘要

Bhimal 位於印度 Kumaon Himalaya 區，該地區印度蜂 (Apis cerana indica Fabr.) 於秋季 (九月至十月) 採集之花粉團之組成分析。結果所有花粉團皆屬於單花花粉團，花粉的種類包括風媒和蟲媒被子植物花粉，分屬於 15 個科和 18 個分類群。菊科花粉佔 34.7%，為最優勢，其次為禾本科、唇形科和豆科 (各佔 10%)。充足粉源及蜜源對於維持蜂產品的量是非常重要的，本實驗提及優勢花粉及 11 種次要的花粉，可做為選取設置蜂箱的參考。 關鍵詞：印度，Bhimal，秋季，蜜蜂花粉團。

Keyword: Honey bee, Pollen loads, Autumn season, Bhimtal, India.