<b>Effects of abiotic factors on the foraging activity of <i>Apis mellifera</i> Linnaeus, 1758 in inflorescences of <i>Vernonia polyanthes</i> Less (Asteraceae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Knowledge on the foraging activity of Apis mellifera under the influence of abiotic factors has not been fully elucidated. Knowing the interactions between bees and plants with beekeeping relevance is fundamental to develop management strategies aimed at improving the beekeeping productivity. In this way, this study aimed to determine the foraging schedule of A. mellifera and to assess the influence of environmental factors on the foraging on inflorescences of Vernonia polyanthes. The study was conducted in the rural area of Valença, Rio de Janeiro State. Visits of A. mellifera workers to V. polyanthes inflorescences occurred from 9 am to 4 pm, especially between 11 am and 3 pm. Among the abiotic variables, relative humidity (rs = -0.691; p < 0.0001) and temperature (rs = 0.531; p < 0.0001) were correlated with foraging activity. Increase in temperature and decrease in humidity resulted in increased frequency in bee foraging activity, accounting for 46.9% of the activity in A. mellifera. This study provides subsidies to the development of apiculture, emphasizing the importance of V. polyanthes as a food resource during winter, representing a good alternative to increase the productivity, especially in areas of grasslands or abandoned crops, where 'Assa-peixe' is abundant.Keywords: beekeeping, abiotic factors, Africanized honeybees, Assa-peixe.Efeito dos fatores abióticos sobre a atividade forrageadora de Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 em inflorescências de Vernonia polyanthes Less (Asteraceae) RESUMO. O conhecimento das atividades de forrageio de Apis mellifera sob a influência dos fatores abióticos ainda não está completamente elucidado. Conhecer as interações entre abelhas e plantas de importância apícola é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de metodologias de manejo, que visem à produtividade e desenvolvimento da apicultura. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o horário de forrageio de A. mellifera e avaliar a influência dos fatores ambientais sobre o forrageio nas inflorescências de Vernonia polyanthes. O estudo foi conduzido em uma área rural da cidade de Valença, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As visitas das operárias de A. mellifera as inflorescências de V. polyanthes ocorreram das 9 às 16 h, com maior atividade entre 11 e 15 h. Dos fatores abióticos estudados, umidade relativa do ar (rs = -0,691; p < 0,0001) e temperatura (rs = 0,531; p < 0,0001) se correlacionaram com a atividade forrageadora. O aumento da temperatura e diminuição da umidade aumentou a frequência no forrageio das abelhas, sendo responsáveis por 46,9% da atividade de A. mellifera. Este trabalho fornece subsídios para o desenvolvimento da apicultura, uma vez que destaca a importância de V. polyanthes como fonte de recurso para A. mellifera durante o inverno, sendo uma boa alternativa para os apicultores melhorarem a produtividade dessa atividade econômica, principalmente em áreas de pastagem ou cultivos abandonados, com abundância de Assa-peixe.Palavras-chave: apicultura, fatores abióticos, abelhas africanizadas, Ass...

Analysis of the effects of climate variables on Apis mellifera pollen foraging performance

“…Similar results were obtained by Alves et al (2015), which observed a more intense foraging activity of Africanized honey bees when the temperature was high (around 30°C) and the relative humidity was low (around 45%). The availability of resources during the winter can also be part of the explanation for the significantly reduced foraging activity.…”

“…This climatic variable was extensively studied and seems to be negatively correlated to foraging (Polatto et al, 2014). Alves et al (2015) observed that when the humidity was above 81%, there was no foraging activity for Africanized honey bees. It is also considered that high humidity levels can affect sugar concentration in nectar, as well as pollen physical properties (Silva et al, 2013;Alves et al, 2015), thus hampering pollen collection by foragers.…”

“…Alves et al (2015) observed that when the humidity was above 81%, there was no foraging activity for Africanized honey bees. It is also considered that high humidity levels can affect sugar concentration in nectar, as well as pollen physical properties (Silva et al, 2013;Alves et al, 2015), thus hampering pollen collection by foragers. Other Apis species seems to present the same patterns of foraging according to the relative humidity intensity.…”

“…This positive correlation between foraging and temperature can also explain the partial loss of activity/productivity within the winter. Alves et al (2015) and Malerbo-Souza and Silva (2011) described that the foraging activities of Africanized honey bees usually begins after the temperature reaches a threshold (around 15°C). According to Polatto et al (2014), African hybrids of A. mellifera present more intense activities of flower-visiting and are less susceptible to competition with other bees species, earlier in the day (7:00 to 8:00am).…”

EFFECT OF SOME FOOD ADDITIVE FORMULATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF HONEYBEE, Apis mellifera L. COLONIES

“…However, and like other projects, bee projects are liable to be faced with some difficulties, including the invasion of natural enemies (El-Enany and Abdallah, 2016) and the infection of the pathogens of honeybee diseases (Yousif-Khalil, 1992a; Yousif-Khalil and Khattaby, 1993;Yousif-Khalil et al, 2009;Chhuneja, 2014). Insecticidal pollution (Yousif-Khalil and Shalaby, 1992), Climatic factors (Alves et al, 2015), and Shortage of food sources (Saffari et al, 2004) are also from the difficulties that face bee projects.…”