Foraging activity of Apis spp. on Coriander (Coriandum sativum L.) flowers

Abstract

The foraging rate (number of flowers visited/minute) by honeybee species recorded from coriander bloom revealed that the maximum number of flowers (12.87, 9.78) visited per minute by A. florea followed by A. c. indica (11.03, 8.04) and A. mellifera (9.77, 6.99) while the minimum was recorded in A. dorsata (8.09, 6.52) for gathering a load of pollen/nectar or both. The maximum mean numbers of flowers were visited at 1200 noon followed by 14.00 PM and minimum at 10.00 AM on almost all dates of observation in both the years. The foraging speed (time spent in second/flower) of honeybee species recorded from coriander bloom revealed that A. dorsata spent more time (7.03, 6.41 hrs) for foraging followed by A. mellifera (6.30, 5.53) and A. c. indica (4.36, 4.00) while the minimum was spent by A. florea (3.12, 3.10) for gathering a load of pollen/nectar or both. The maximum foraging speed was recorded at 12.30 PM followed by 14.30 PM while the minimum foraging speed were at 10.30 AM on all dates of observations in both the years.