Effect of environmental factors on the foraging activities of major bee pollinators

Abstract

Environment plays an important role in pollinator’s activity. Flight activity in Apis mellifera was significantly influenced by temperature, relative humidity and sunshine. Maximum temperature exerted a significant positive correlation with the foraging activity of Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana indica which indicate that maximum temperature fell within the optimal range (21.0 to 33.5 oC) for their activity. However, minimum temperature exerted significant positive correlation with the activity of only A. dorsata and A. c. indica. It reveals that the A. dorsata and A. c. indica are able to forage with optimal range of maximum and minimum temperature. It was also observed that maximum temperature exerted significant negative correlation with the foraging activity of syrphids and non apis bees, means their activity is decreased with increasing temperature. Although, rain fall exerted significant negative correlation with all foragers showed their activity is decreased during rainy day.