Effect of Bee Flora and Pollen Trap Frequency on Corbicular Pollen Collection of Apis mellifera L. Colonies

Background: Honey bees are vital for agriculture through pollination and production of valuable hive products, with pollen serving as a crucial nutritional resource for colony growth and health. However, increasing interest in pollen harvesting requires optimized trapping practices, as excessive or improper trapping can adversely affect colony development. Despite its economic potential, limited information is available on the effect of pollen trapping frequency under different floral conditions, highlighting the need for studies to optimize pollen production while maintaining colony sustainability. Aims: The study aims to evaluate the effect of different pollen trapping frequencies on pollen collection (g/colony/day) in Apis mellifera across different floral sources. Study design: Data were analyzed using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were compared using critical difference (CD) at the 5% level of significance. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were conducted from January to April during 2023 and 2024 across six locations representing different floral sources, including mustard, multiflora, and Pyrus pashia in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Methodology: At each floral source (location), 15 Apis mellifera colonies were selected and equally divided among three trapping frequencies—alternate-day, twice-a-week, and once-a-week—such that each frequency was represented by five colonies per floral source. Front-mounted pollen traps were installed at the hive entrances, and pollen collected in trap trays was recorded weekly and expressed as g/colony/day. Results: Pollen collection varied significantly with floral source, trapping frequency, and year. The highest pollen collection was recorded under alternate-day trapping in mustard at Haripura, Rajasthan (31.19 g/colony/day and 32.28 g/colony/day in 2023 and 2024, respectively), while the lowest values were observed in Pyrus pashia (16.69 g/colony/day and 17.19 g/colony/day). Across all floral sources, alternate-day trapping consistently resulted in higher pollen collection compared to twice-a-week (25.46 g/colony/day –26.04 g/colony/day in mustard) and once-a-week trapping (21.46 g/colony/day –23.11 g/colony/day). The interaction between floral source and trapping frequency was significant, whereas year-related interactions were non-significant. Conclusion: The study concludes that both floral source and trapping frequency significantly influence pollen collection, and alternate-day trapping in mustard-based floral ecosystems is most effective for maximizing pollen yield in A. mellifera colonies.