Melissopalyonology of Multifloral Honey of Asian Giant Honeybee, APIS DORSATA Fabricius At Southern Karnataka, India

K. S. Raghunandan; S. Basavarajappa

Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Melissopalyonology of Multifloral Honey of Asian Giant Honeybee, APIS DORSATA Fabricius At Southern Karnataka, India

K. S. Raghunandan, S. Basavarajappa

Abstract :

Field observations were conducted during the years 2010 and 2011 to collect honey from Asian giant honeybee, Apis dorsata Faicius (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apoidae) colonies by following standard methods amidst arid, semi–arid and malnad regions of southern Karnataka. Altogether, 48 pollen types were recorded. Of all, 43 pollen types belonged to medicinal plants (19 species), economically important plants (eight species), fruit yielding plants (seven species), vegetables (six species), ornamental plants (three species) and remaining five types were unidentified. Thus, pollen analysis in the honey collected from A. dorsata colonies revealed multifloral characteristics. The honey contained various types of pollen grains with different shape and structure. Different pollen grains represented specific flowering plant species. A. dorsata is a voracious forager, collect nectar and pollen from diversified flora and produce multifloral honey useful to mankind. Understanding its floral source would help reveal floral status of the region and knowledge on pollen types would provide a greater insight into Melissopalyonology of that region.