Foraging behaviour of Amegilla zonata (L.) on Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke

Abstract

Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke an important medicinal plant of Jammu and Kashmir, India was found to be pollinated by insects belonging to 4 orders, 8 families and 14 species. The flowers of O. kilimandscharicum were visited abundantly by Amegilla zonata (L.) followed by Apis dorsata and A. cerana. The number of bees foraging during different times on the day ranged from 4.7 - 11.30/ 5 plants/5 min; visited 12 - 25 flowers/5 plant and spent 2.3 - 7.9 s/flower. Foraging populations of A.zonata responded significantly to environmental factors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v44i1.22735 Bangladesh J. Bot. 44(1): 129-132, 2015 (March

Proceeding

“…These bees help in the pollination of various crops and enhance the productivity of the crops. The foraging activity was observed to increase with increasing maximum temperature and daily sunshine hours and it shows a positive correlation between the foraging activity and weather parameters (Sharma and Abrol, 2015). The present study concluded that C. viridissima preferred pithy stems of three different host plants for nestings, namely, S. spontaneum (Sarkanda), S. bengalense (Kae), and Rosa spp.…”

Insect’s Visitation on Melastoma malabathricum in UKM Bangi Forest Reserve

“…The Amegilla sp. had already been established as well-known pollinators of a wide range of crops [12]. Therefore, a conclusion can be made that A. zonata was actually one of the pollinators for M. malabathricum.…”

“…Another species from Apidae family that was found on M. malabathricum is Amegilla zonata (L.), also known locally as the Blue-banded bee. It was a medium-large, pubescent, long-tongued and solitary bee [12]. The Amegilla sp.…”