Influence of Weather Parameters on Pollen and Nectar Foraging Activity of Apis and Non-Apis Species of Honey Bees in Wild and Cultivated Varieties of Jamun (Syzygium cumuni L. Skeels)

The study on influence of weather parameters on pollen and nectar foraging activity of Apis and non-Apis species of honey bees in wild and cultivated varieties of jamun revealed that two peaks in nectar forager activity of A. dorsata, A. florea and A. cerana was recorded, the first peak during 0800-1200hr and second peak during 1400-1800hr, whereas in the case of T. iridipennis, one peak during 0800-0900hr was observed. Only one peak in the pollen forager of A. dorsata, A. florea and A. cerana was recorded during 0900-1200/1300hr, where as in case of T. iridipennis, two peaks were observed, the first peak during 1000-1200hr and the second peak during 1500-1800hr. The nectar foragers of T. iridipennis showed a significant negative, a significant positive and a significant negative correlation at five per cent level of significance with hourly temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The nectar foragers of A. cerana had a significant positive correlation on wild S. cumini at GKVK at five per cent level of significance with hourly wind speed. A highly significant positive, a significant positive and a non-significant negative correlation at one and five per cent level of significance existed between the number of pollen foragers of T. iridipennis with hourly wind speed, temperature and relative humidity. Out of studied Apis and non-Apis bees, the relative humidity and wind speed affected the pollen and nectar foragers of T. iridipennis on wild and cultivated varieties of jamun.