Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (4): 244-249 ISS N 2320-7078 Diversity of nectariferous and polleniferous bee JEZS 2014; 2 (4): 244-249 © 2014 JEZS flora at Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills of Western Received: 26-06-2014 Accepted: 14-07-2014 Ghats of Nasik district (M. S.) India Waykar Bhalchandra Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Dr. Babasaheb Waykar Bhalchandra, Baviskar R.K., Nikam T.B. Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431004 (M.S.) India. ABSTRACT The present investigation was conducted to study the diversity of nectariferous and polleniferous bee Baviskar R.K. flora and to develop a floral calendar for Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills. The flowering plants were visited Animal Physiology Laboratory, and observed for the presence and foraging activities of honeybees. Plants were scored as bee foraging Department of Zoology, Dr. Babasaheb species when at least three honeybees had visited to the flowers within the period of 10 minutes. The Ambedkar Marathwada University, results revealed that 52 plant species were useful to honeybees, out of which 29 were agricultural crops Aurangabad-431004 (M.S.) India and 23 wild plants. The identified flora was further grouped into pollen, nectar and both pollen and nectar yielding plants. Mid-December to February and mid-July to September were identified as honey flow Nikam T.B. periods and mid -April to mid- June were the critical dearth periods during the year. Based on the Department of Zoology, H.P.T. Arts availability, utility status and flowering duration of flora, floral calendar was developed for the study and R.Y.K. Science College Nashik- area. 422013 (M.S.) India Keywords: Bee flora, beekeeping, honey flow period, dearth period, floral calendar. 1. Introduction Honeybees are one of the most important pollinators of angiosperms because of their vegetarian diet, flower visiting habits, hairy bodies that readily pick up pollen grains and visit many flowers of the same species during a single trip thus affecting pollination [1, 2]. This enables the reproduction, productivity and diversification of plants. The mutual interdependence of the anthophilous insects and entomophilous angiosperms hastened their co- evolution [3]. Beekeeping is agro-horticultural and forest based industry and it is of great importance to farmers for pollination benefit. Insect pollination of agricultural crops is a critical ecosystem service. Honeybees pollinate 16% of flowering plant species in the world and nearly 400 species of agricultural plants [4]. Fruits, vegetables or seed production from 87 of the 115 leading global food crops depends upon animal pollination [5]. The value of insect pollination for worldwide agricultural production is estimated to be 153 billion, which represents 9.5% of the value of the world agricultural production used for human food in 2005 [6]. By investing limited expenses, beekeeping can be practiced to obtain maximum subsidiary income through honey, beeswax and other bee products with agricultural activity. The practice of beekeeping is not only depends on the better strain of honeybees but also on abundance and occurrence of pollen and nectar sources within the surrounding area of an apiary [7, 8]. Flowers are the mainstay of bee’s life. However flowering plants of several plant families are blossoming at different time intervals of the year [7]. Depending upon the soil type, climatic factors and the habitat of the vegetation, the time of the blooming may change for even the same nectar plants [9]. Sound information on duration of flowering and blooming time is essential for proper beekeeping management [10]. The extensive knowledge on type, density and quality of bee flora in a region are prerequisites for enhancing the efficiency of beekeeping Correspondence: industry and successful beekeeping. Such information may enable beekeepers to utilize Waykar Bhalchandra beekeeping at the maximum level, so that they can harvest a good yield of honey and other bee Animal Physiology Laboratory, products in addition to effective. Every region has its own honey flow and dearth periods of Department of Zoology, Dr. short and long duration. Such knowledge on bee flora will help in the effective management of Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431004 bee colonies during such periods. Many researchers studied the various aspects of botanical (M.S.) India. sciences, with special emphasis on floral biology, taxonomy, and palynology [11-19]. ~ 244 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to prepare Trimbakeshwar taluka of Nasik district at 19.56 0 N latitude an inventory of existing nectariferous/ polleniferous bee flora and 73.320 E longitude. The average altitude of this area is and develop floral calendar for Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills 1350 meter above the sea level. The foraging area of honey of Western Ghats of Maharashtra (India). bee ranges approximately 38 km2 (fig.1).The annual rain fall at Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills is approximately 130-150 cm. 2. Materials and Methods The Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills are evergreen forest. Tribal 2.1 Study sites people use this land for agriculture purpose. Geographically Anjaneri, and Dugarwadi hills are located in Fig 1: Map of the study area showing location of the sites 2.2 Identification of bee-flora sites, during April 2008– March 2009. Each study visit served Field data were collected through monthly visit to the study as pseudo replicates for the site and all observations were ~ 245 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies taken between 0700-1730 hours. The study included help of taxonomist and compared with the published reports observation of bee’s activities on flowers of different plant [21, 22]. The observations were recorded for three seasons. species. Whenever bees were found on the flowers of such A complete chronological record of flowering periods of the plants, their foraging behavior was observed for a period of 10 plants species was made during the surveys. The data recorded minutes. If the success of any foraging attempt was in field’s notebooks was compiled into annual floral calendar ascertained, the plant was scored as bee foraging species if at and also used to prepare honey flow and dearth period. least three (3) honeybees visited the flowers simultaneously within 10 minutes of the observation. 3. Results and Discussion The observation on nectar and pollen source was based on The study area is typically hilly area, which includes a activities performed by honeybees on different flowers. considerable area of natural forest and tree plantations, besides Honeybees with their activity of extending their proboscis into large extent of foot hills land is under the cultivation of agro- the flowers are considered as nectar source and bees carrying horticultural crops. In the present investigation honeybee pollen on their hind legs were determined as pollen source. foraging activities were recorded on different agricultural and Honeybees with their activity of extending their proboscis into wild plant species during April 2008-March 2009 (Tables 1-2, the flowers and also collecting pollen on their hind legs were Figures 2-3). The result revealed that 52 plant species were determined as nectar and pollen yielding plants [20]. Such useful to honeybees, out of which 29 were agricultural crops plants were identified using the books in situ. If the plants and 23 were wild plants, which are well distributed and were recorded as bee foraging species at particular site and commonly found in the study area. The identified flora was later encountered in subsequent survey on the other sites; it further grouped into pollen, nectar and both pollen and nectar was only scored for presence. Plants that could not be yielding plants (Tables 1-2) out of 29 agricultural bee plant identified in the field their portion or twig of a branch with species, nine (9) plants necessary botanical futures like its leaves, flower and portion of stem were cut and arranged in herbarium, identified with the Table 1: The nectariferous/polleniferous agricultural bee flora and floral calendar of Anjaneri and Dugarwadi hills during April 2008–Mar 2009. Sr. Bee forage value Common name Botanical name Family Flowering period no. Nectar Pollen Nectar+Pollen 1 Custard apple Annona squamosa Annonaceae Aug – Oct. - - N1P2 2 Coriander Coriandrum sativum Apiaceae Jan – Dec. - - N1P2 3 Sunflower Helianthus annuus Compositae March – April. - - N2P1 4 Mustard Brassica rapa Brassicaceae Jan – March. N1 - - 5 Bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria Cucurbitaceae Oct – Feb. - - N2P2 6 Cucumber Cucumis sativus Cucurbitaceae Aug – Oct. - P1 - 7 Musk melon Cucumis melo Cucurbitaceae March – May. - P1 - 8 Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo Cucurbitaceae Aug – Oct. - - N2P2 9 Water melon, Citrullus lanatus Cucurbitaceae July – Aug. - P1 - 10 Silk gourd Luffa acutangula Cucurbitaceae, July – Oct. - - N1P1 11 Turkish gram balls Vigna aconitifolia Fabaceae March - May. N3 - - 12 Black eyed pea Vigna unguiculata Fabaceae Jul – Aug. N3 - - 13 Black gram Vigna mungo Fabaceae Aug – Sep. N3 - - 14 Chickpea Cicer arietinum Fabaceae Dec – March. N2 - - 15 Ground nut Arachis hypogaea Fabaceae July - Oct, April – June. - P2 - 16 Mung bean Vigna radiata Fabaceae Aug – Sep. N3 - - 17 Pea Pisum sativum Fabaceae Aug- Sep. - - N1P1 18 Pigeon pea Cajanus cajan Fabaceae July – Sep. N2 - - 19 Cluster bean Cyamopsis tetragonolobus Leguminosae Jun - Aug. N2 - - 20 Onion Allium cepa Liliaceae Jun–